§ MR. BOLANDI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received copies of resolutions passed by the county councils of Wexford, Meath, Dublin, and Tipperary (S.R.), by thirteen urban district councils, nine rural district councils, and fourteen boards of guardians in various parts of of Ireland, requesting to have Irish made a subject of examination for postal officials in Ireland, and to have a knowledge of Irish required in making appointments of postmasters and 1367 postmen; whether he is aware that in the official advertisement of the vacancy for the postmastership of Carnarvon the words, "a knowledge of Welsh is necessary," occur; and whether he proposes to have the resolutions of these elected councils in Ireland carried into effect.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonI have received copies of resolutions passed by various local bodies in Ireland urging the adoption of Irish as a subject of examination for postal officials in Ireland, and the introduction of a rule requiring a knowledge of that language by all postmasters and postmen. The conditions under which Irish is used as a spoken or written language do not appear to me to be such as to render such a measure necessary. In certain districts of Wales a knowledge of Welsh is necessary; and this fact was mentioned in the advertisement of the vacancy in the postmastership of Carnarvon.
§ MR. BOLANDIf the noble Lord gets resolutions from every district council will he kindly consider the matter?
§ LORD STANLEYOh yes, I will consider it.
§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)Will you consider it favourably?
§ [No Answer was returned.]