§ 27. Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Postmaster-General if he will state why the morning mail to the south should not be dispatched from Amiens Street and the delay in backing into Kingsbridge thus avoided?
The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)I am informed that, apart from other considerations, there is not adequate platform accommodation at Amiens Street for the whole of the vehicles of the Great Southern and Western Company's Kings-bridge train.
§ Mr. HEALYDoes the hon. Gentleman make any attempt to investigate this question himself, or does he accept what is supplied to him?
Mr. PEASEThe Post Office is taking steps to find out from the railway company what their position is in regard to this matter. As far as the control of the com- 1812 pany is concerned, it is not in the hands, of the Post Office, but in the hands of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. HEALYAm I not right in thinking that it was the Post Office that gave this company permission to delay the Southern mail fifty-five minutes?
§ 28. Mr. HEALYasked the Postmaster-General whether he has in any way represented to the railway company that it is not reasonable that an express, mail train should take thirty-one minutes to run six and a half miles between West-land Row and Kingsbridge; and whether, if the railway company refuse to make some improvement, he will consider the advisability of reverting to the former-practice of transferring the mails between these two points in horse vans, which was much more expeditious?
Mr. PIKE PEASEThe transfer of the-mails by horse vans between Westland Row and Kingsbridge would take much longer than the present conveyance by railway. I will communicate with the-railway company in order to ascertain whether any improvement can be made in the general arrangements between Kingstown Pier and Kingsbridge.