HC Deb 15 March 1905 vol 143 cc42-3
MR. BOLAND

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of postal officials in the London district have a thorough knowledge of Irish; and whether he will submit the original envelope, addressed by Mr. Thomas Murphy, to any one or more of such competent officials with a view to discovering the alleged error which caused a delay of four days in the delivery of the letter; or will he submit it to Dr. Norman Moore, a member of the Consultative Committee of the English Board of Education, who is a recognised authority on the Irish language.

LORD STANLEY

I have no information as to the knowledge of Irish possessed by postal officials in the London district; and I trust the hon. Member will not think I am discourteous if I say that I am not prepared to waste the time of competent officials or of Dr. Norman Moore by asking them to examine Mr. Murphy's envelope.

MR. BOLAND

But is it not the fact that the original defence of the noble Lord was that the address was incorrectly written in Irish? Will he not submit the matter to arbitration?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir.

MR. MOONEY (Dublin County, S.)

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a letter, addressed in Irish, to the Secretary of the Dunleary Feis Committee, at 3, Lower George's Street, Kingstown, county Dublin, was delivered at 3, Upper George's Street and there opened by the occupier; that, although posted in Dublin on 6th March, it did not reach the person to whom it was addressed until 2 p.m. on 8th March; and whether, seeing that an elementary knowledge of Irish would enable an official to distinguish between the abbreviated forms ioch. (lower) and uach. (upper), he will state what steps will be taken to prevent private letters, through the mistakes of postal officials, from being delivered into the hands of strangers.

LORD STANLEY

I have no in formation as to the letter to which the hon. Member refers, and I am no prepared to undertake that letters addressed in Irish shall be delivered as certainly or as rapidly as letters addressed in English.