HC Deb 17 December 1906 vol 167 cc1047-8
MR. BOLAND

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an Irish addressed postcard was not delivered at the address of Messrs. Geoghegan, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, until 1.30 p.m., although it bore in printed characters the English translation of the address, and should, in the ordinary course, have been delivered by the first morning post; can he state the cause of the delay; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in order to prevent a repetition of this inconvenience to a business firm.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

From the position of the English address it was not clear that it was a translation of the Irish address and the card was sent to the proper officer for the address to be translated. A slight rearrangement of the printed addresses would prevent any possibility of a delay from the same cause in future.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether letters addressed in Irish to places within the county of Donegal, where the Irish language is largely spoken, are delayed no fewer than three days in delivery, being in all cases forwarded to Dublin for translation; and whether, having regard to the increase of correspondence in Irish, and to the inconvenience to which the Irish-speaking population are subjected through the present postal management, he will consider the desirability of appointing some Irish-speaking officials within the county.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Letters addressed in Irish are sent to Dublin for translation only in cases where the addresses cannot be translated at the post offices at which the letters are first dealt with. It does not seem necessary to take any special steps in the direction suggested by the hon. Member in the latter part of his Question.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Is the reason why the letters cannot be translated in post offices in Irish-speaking districts due to the fact that the post offices are manned by foreigners?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

No, Sir; but in many post offices there is no one capable of making the translation.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Why not ask the next door neighbour?

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

In New Zealand post offices telegrams are translated in the Maori language. Surely Ireland is as good as New Zealand.