§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that inconvenience is caused by the fact that there is no direct telegraphic communication between Listowel and Tralee, a distance of about twenty miles, and that telegrams to or from Tralee and Listowel must go by Killarney, Mallow, and Limerick to either place, a distance of about 150 miles; and, if so, whether, seeing that the telegraphic system is already extended from Tralee to Lixnaw, a point only five miles from Listowel, he can take steps to grant this extension.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The circumstances have not materially changed since the hon. Member called attention to this subject on the 2nd July, 1900.† The telegraphic communication between Tralee and Listowel is certainly somewhat circuitous. The number of telegrams passing between the two towns is, however, very small, and, as the average time occupied in their transmission is only seventeen minutes, there is at present no case for incurring the considerable expense which the carrying out of the hon. Member's suggestion would involve. The matter will, however, be borne in mind in case an opportunity should present itself of effecting in an economical way any improvement in the service.