§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas Balmer, of Hillsborough, county Down, petitioned for a vacant post between Hillsboirough and Edentrillick in February last; whether he is further aware that the post had then been vacant for a considerable period, and that up to the present time Mr. Balmer has received no reply to his application; and whether he can now announce his decision.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Under a revision of the postal arrangements in the neighbourhood of Belfast and Lisburn it was decided to transfer a certain portion of the Lisburn postal 119 area to the control of the postmaster of Belfast. This involved the displacement of a rural postman at Lisburn, and the conflicting claims of the men whose duties were affected necessitated pro longed discussion of the proposals. Meanwhile, the Hillsborough to Edentrillick rural post, which is in the Lisburn area, was kept vacant in order to provide for the postman who would be displaced. In these circumstances it was not possible to give Mr. Balmer a definite reply to his petition for the post. The changes have been carried into effect, and a reply will be sent to Mr. Balmer.