§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked whether the post is despatched from Bruree, in the county of Limerick, now at twelve o'clock noon, whereas heretofore it was despatched about 3.15 p.m.; and whether, having regard to the fact that the people of this village and district have no time on-receiving a letter on Sunday to reply to it on the same day, and further, having regard to the fact that the mail train does not depart from Kilmallock, where the Bruree post is sent, until a late hour in the evening, he will take steps to see that the 3.15 p.m. despatch be continued in order to suit the convenience of the public in the district?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe alteration was made to admit of the postman returning home earlier on Sundays in accordance with the usual practice. I understand that the letters reach Bruree on Sundays at about 8 a.m., and the residents therefore have a reasonable interval in which to reply to any urgent communications. I regret that in the circumstances I cannot agree to revert to the old arrangement.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs it not a fact that for the past thirty years or more the mails were not despatched on Sundays until 3.15, and having regard to the fact 1142 that the late mails do not leave Kilmallock, the head office, until about 10.30, will the old arrangements be gone back to?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThat is precisely the question on the Paper and exactly the question I answered.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries? The mails at Bruree, as I am informed, do not arrive now until 11.30, whereas formerly they arrived at 8 o'clock.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have made inquiry, and my information is that the mails reach there on Sundays about 8 a.m.