IRISH MAIL CONTRACTS. (Hansard, 14 July 1896)

VISCOUNT DE VESCI
asked the Postmaster General what arrangements were contemplated from the commencement of the new Irish mail contract in April 1897, for expediting the night mail and passenger trains between London (Euston Station) and Kingstown and from Kingstown to London (Euston Station), and also the up and down day mail and passenger trains over the various railways in Ireland which were run in connection with the night mails to and from Kingstown; also what arrangements were contemplated for the dispatch of day mail and passenger trains from London to Kingstown and from Kingstown to London. His Lordship said that the question he had to ask was not of a kind which as a rule was brought before their Lordships' House, but it was of such importance to the travelling public and to the relations between the two kingdoms, and to men of business that that must be his apology for troubling their Lordships. As the House was aware, the present arrangements under which the mails were conveyed between Ireland and England, had been determined, and a new contract would commence in April 1897. He would explain as some justification for including in his Question an inquiry as to the arrangements for conveying passengers as well as mails, that by the Treasury Minutes which had been issued on various occasions when mail contracts were under consideration, it had been always contemplated by the Treasury and the Post Office that one of the chief objects in improving the communications in respect of the trains was to afford facilities for passenger traffic as well as for mails. In the Treasury Minutes of 1883, and again in 1895, it was stated that accommodation for mails and passengers provided under the new contract was to be in no way inferior to that provided in the Ireland, which was then the largest existing vessel, and since then even larger vessels had been constructed and used. Most of their Lordships might be aware that under the new arrangements half an hour extra was to be gained at sea, and under that arrangement the City of Dublin Company, which had the contract for conveying the mails, was now building a fleet of new boats, which were expected to attain 1416 a high rate of speed, and to be fully capable of running 21 knots. Under the same arrangements, half an hour was also to be gained by the London and North-Western Railway Company. He considered that a very small and exiguous advantage. Anyhow, there was this, one hour was gained by the night mails from London to Kingstown, and viceversâ from Kingstown to London. He was not sure whether at present a similar arrangement had been entered into with regard to the day mails, and the question he desired to put was this, what arrangements were contemplated by the Post Office when the new contract came into operation, which he believed would be in April next, for expediting the mail trains in Ireland. He had been assured from all sources that it was expected in Ireland that the whole or the greater part of this gain of time would be given in Ireland itself, and that none of it would be taken practically on this side of the water. He had a list showing what the present arrangements of trains were. At present the night mail train, the principal matter concerning people in Ireland, left Euston at twenty minutes past eight, arrived at Kingstown at 5.55 by booked time. The mails and the passengers were at once dispatched from Kingstown Pier, and arrived at Belfast 9.30, at Londonderry at 11.10 and at Cork at 11. 15, all in the morning. The return trains left Cork at 2.40, and the night mails left Kingstown at 7.25, arriving in London at 6.15 in the morning. What was asked for was that the whole gain of time should be given in Ireland.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (THE DUKE OF NORFOLK)
I was not until now aware of the object of the noble Lord in asking me the question, and I am afraid my answer will hardly be satisfactory to him as regards the giving to Ireland the whole benefit of the curtailment of time, because the ramifications of the railways in Ireland make it impossible to do more than to give the answer I have to read to the House. It is contemplated that the down night mail shall leave Euston at 8.45 p.m. instead of at 8.20 p.m., and arrive at Kingstown at 6.7 a.m. instead of 6.42 a.m., and that the up night mail shall leave Kingstown at 8.20 p.m. instead of 7.50 p.m., and reach Euston at 5.50. a.m. 1417 instead of 6.15 a.m. It cannot at present be stated what arrangements will be practicable for carrying on the improvement into the provinces of Ireland. The case of each district must be considered on its merits, and the arrangements will depend largely upon the companies being able to effect the alterations required without increase of the existing payments. As regards the day mail, it is intended that the dispatch from Euston shall continuo to be made at 7.15 a.m., the arrival at Kingstown taking place at 5.5 p.m. instead of at 5.35 p.m. In the other direction the dispatch from Kingstown will continue to be made at 7.20 a.m., the arrival at Euston taking place at 5.15 p.m. instead of at 5.45 p m. All the hours mentioned are in English time.

§ LORD SUDELEY
inquired whether the noble Duke would consider the possibility of making a through communication from Kingstown to Broadstone. The railway had been passed by the Board of Trade, and there seemed to be no reason why the mails should be carted from Westland Row to Broadstone.

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK
promised to give close attention to the matter, but he had a misgiving that the noble Lord was imposing a duty upon him that he could hardly claim to be able to discharge.

VISCOUNT DE VESCI
hoped the noble Duke would reconsider the matter, as it was most important additional time should be given in Ireland.

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK
said that half-an-hour's gain was given, and it was hoped the Irish companies would take advantage of that half-hour, and expedite their trains accordingly.

VISCOUNT DE VESCI
imagined it was for the Post Office to dictate to the companies on this and the other side of the Channel how they should run their trains.

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK
said that he quite understood the noble Lord's points. The alterations did not come into force until April 1897, and those points had not yet been sanctioned by the Post Office.