§ MR. NANNETTII beg ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a portion of the American mail landed at Queenstown on the 1st April was sent unsorted to London and Liverpool; can he say why the controller of the Dublin sorting office does not train a sufficient number of men to be able to cope with the mail; and will he explain why the same steps are not taken in Ireland as in England to secure the efficient handling of homeward-bound American mails.
LORD STANLEYThe American mail landed from the "Campania" at Queenstown on the 1st April consisted of 1,942 bags. Three bags were sent unsorted to Liverpool owing to the train from Queenstown to Dublin having performed the journey in twenty minutes less time than 260 usual, and to the sorters having a correspondingly reduced time for their work, some of the London correspondence, which is sorted between North Wall and Crewe, was sent unsorted to London in consequence of the sorting boxes not being at once available on board the packet; but the time of delivery of the correspondence in London was not affected by this irregularity. There is a sufficient number of trained sorters to provide for the service; and, except for the occurrence of circumstances which cannot be foreseen, the arrangements for dealing with these mails are adequate.
§ MR. NANNETTIMay I ask if the noble Lord will, in view of the fact that the Irish railways are endeavouring to facilitate the traffic, see that these mails are not delayed by having to be sent to London? I ask this in view of the importance of retaining Queenstown as the mail route.
LORD STANLEYCertainly, and when I find that the increase of speed is usual and not exceptional I will make other arrangements to meet it.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork County. E.)Can the same facilities be afforded for handling the mails between Queenstown and Dublin as between Plymouth and London?