§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fermanagh, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General 724 if he is aware that although the day mail arrives at Ballina, county Mayo, at 11.40 a.m., the mail car carrying the mail to the important town of Crossmolina, six miles distant, does not leave Ballina till about 4.30 p.m., and the letters are not delivered till 6.15 p.m. at the earliest; is he aware that large numbers of people get the daily papers by this service as well as their letters, which include all English letters of the preceding day; can he say why it is necessary to start the mail car from Ballina so late; and will he make arrangements whereby it could leave about 12.30 p.m., and so have letters and papers delivered in Crossmolina by 2 o'clock, or thereabouts.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The postal service to Crossmolina is already carried on at a considerable loss to the Revenue, and, as the alteration suggested by the hon. Member would involve additional cost, I should not be justified in adopting it. Moreover, some advantage is gained by the present arrangement, inasmuch as it admits of correspondence posted in Dublin in the morning being delivered at Crossmolina the same day.