§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what steps have been taken to carry out the promise of the Postmaster General to a deputation from the Cork Chamber of Commerce and Shipping in July, 1901 that he was most desirious of meeting the wishes of the Chamber and of the commercial community as far as possible in respect to the plans for the reconstruction of the Cork Post Office; is he aware that two architects have reported that enlarged accommodation could be provided in the office for a sum of£500, and not £5,000,as estimated by the Irish 541 Board of Works; and whether the Postmaster General or the Board of Works will send a competent architect to Cork to meet and confer with the architects of the Chamber with a view to providing adequate space and accommodation before the building is completed.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIn order to meet the wishes of the Chamber of Commerce, as far as possible, arrangements have been made to remove certain portions of the business out of the Public Office in the Head Post Office at Cork, so as to reduce the chance of its being overfilled at any period of the day. The Postmaster General is aware of the report made to the Chamber by the two architects mentioned, and it has received full consideration; but it is not thought to be either necessary or desirable that such a conference, as is suggested, should take place.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Government has its own architects and has perfect confidence in their judgment. I do not know what means the local architects had of examining the buildings. I think they could not have had an opportunity of examining them very closely before they made the statement.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at a meeting of the Cork Chamber of Commerce and Shipping on the 28th ultimo, when the Chairman stated that the accommodation provided for the public in the Post Office, Cork, was fully sufficient for the business done half a century ago, but that, owing to the development of late years of the savings bank, money orders, and telegraph departments, the counter space provided was insufficient to prevent crowding and constant delays to the public frequenting the office; and whether due regard to these representations of the Chamber of Commerce and the commercial public of Cork will be paid by the postal authorities in regard to the plans for the re-construction of the building.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINA newspaper report has been received of the meeting referred to at which the statement mentioned was made, and the Postmaster General can only repeat the answer given to the hon. Member's previous Question on the same subject, that the accommodation which is provided in the Head Post Office at Cork will be large enough to meet all the reasonable requirements of the public. It is not intended, therefore, to alter the plans.