§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a complaint made by Mr. Robert Gibson, butter merchant, of Limerick, that on Friday last he sent a telegram and prepaid for reply to the village of Foynes, County Limerick, addressed to O'Connor, Foynes, asking to have half a ton of ice forwarded on the same date, and that it was notified to Mr. Gibson some two hours later that the address was insufficient, and that, laving wired again, he was informed that it was then too late to have the ice forwarded on that day; and whether 1679 seeing that O'Connor is the only person who deals in ice in this small village, so that the address should have found him in the first instance, he will have the matter inquired into with a view of putting a stop to this annoyance and damage to traders.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe matter appears to be one which should be dealt with locally.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONNo doubt now complaint has been made the postmaster will deal with it.
§ MR. NIELDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar complaints have been made in various large centres throughout the country?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThat is a general question. In this case the telegram was simply addressed "O'Connor, Foynes," and I have little doubt from my knowledge of Ireland that there is more than one O'Connor there.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Foynes is only a small place, and that there is only one O'Connor there who sells ice? There would, therefore, have been no difficulty in finding him.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONsaid he was afraid his knowledge was not sufficiently extensive to enable him to answer that Question.