§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he was aware that, as no trains run to Cahirciveen on Sundays, the mails are taken by car from Killarney and reach Cahirciveen at 10.30 a.m.; and whether, in view of the fact that the weekday train service during March frequently made a difference of only one hour in a journey of 38 miles, he will state what steps would be taken to accelerate the daily delivery of mails; (2) whether he was aware that the scheduled time of arrival of the morning train at Cahirciveen has now been altered from 8.26 to 9.15 a.m.; has this been done in consequence of the unpunctuality with which the service had been lately conducted; could he state at what hour letters are now delivered in Waterville; and whether any time is given for the reply to urgent letters received by members of the cable station and others, in view of the fact that the mail car leaves early in the afternoon.
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I will answer these two questions together. I am aware that the mails for Cahirciveen are conveyed on Sundays as indicated by the hon. Member, and that the scheduled time of arrival of the goods train on week-days, by which the mails are conveyed, has been altered to 9.15 a.m., the Great Southern and Western Railway Company having 12 assured me that during the greater portion of the year it is not practicable to effect an earlier arrival. I much regret that I see no possibility of improving the service at present. The delivery at Waterville commences at 12.5 p.m., and the despatch for the out-going mail is made up at 2.30 p.m., so that there is an interval for replying to urgent letters on the date of receipt.
§ Mr. BOLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman give me another instance in which where trains run late the hour is changed to suit the railway company and not to suit the convenience of the public?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThis is a goods train running along a single line of railway, and it has to call at a number of small stations on its way. The railway company assure me it is perfectly impossible to keep to the time of arrival previously scheduled, and it is therefore necessary to alter the scheduled time.