MR. KENDAL O'BREEN (Tipperary, Mid.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the house in the Square, Roscrea, county Tipperary, owned by Mr. W. J. Menton, and from which 247 Mr. T. M. Ryan was evicted in July, 1902, has been taken over by the postal authorities; and, if so, for what term and on what conditions; how much does the Department intend expending on the premises; is it proposed to transfer the Post Office from its present situation; what are the reasons for so doing; have the wishes of the townspeople been consulted; and for what length of time have the existing postal premises been used for such a purpose.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY.) Lancashire, WesthoughtonIt is a fact that I have taken a lease from Mr. W. J. Menton of a house in Roscrea formerly occupied by a Mr. T. M. Ryan; but I do not know under what circumstances Mr. Ryan's tenancy was terminated. The term is for thirty, forty, or fifty years, and the rent is £50 a year. A sum of about £490 will be expended in repairing and adapting the premises. The business will be transferred to the new office as soon as it is ready for occupation. The present office, which has been in use since 1893, is not well adapted for Post Office requirements, and could not be made suitable except at disproportionate expense. There has not been any reason to suppose that there would be objection on the part of the townspeople to a step taken for the improvement of their postal accommodation.
MB. KENDAL O'BRIENArising out of that, may I ask will the noble Lord reconsider the intention of his Department to acquire these premises in view of the local feeling caused by the eviction, and that nearly a dozen persons have been sent to jail in connection with it?
§ LORD STANLEYThe house has already been taken for a term of years, and nothing else can be done.
§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)Is the noble Lord going to recommend a public Department to encourage house grabbing in Ireland?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!