§ Mr. PATRICK WHITE (Meath, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in erecting a new post office at Navan; and if he will see that the work is commenced forthwith.
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI have received a copy of the resolution of the Navan urban district council referred to by the hon. Member. The guarantee for the establishment of a call office and its connection with the trunk wire system was given in September. The survey of the route from Drogheda and the preparation of the working estimates necessarily occupied a considerable time; but the work will be completed as rapidly as possible. A local exchange is also being established. It is desirable that the labourers employed on works of this kind should, as far as possible, have continuous employment. To engage them in every case locally for each extension of the trunk system would involve constant changes in the staff and would seriously limit its efficiency.