§ Mr. FIELDasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to complaints that shamrock posted in Dublin on 14th, 15th, and 16th March was not delivered in England until the 18th, the result being inconvenience and loss to Irish traders; whether, seeing that this delay occurred owing to instructions issued whereby shamrock was kept back from the English despatch, he will take steps to ensure that in future, notwithstanding any public notice issued, proper care and attention is given to this increasing item, and that no instruction will in future be issued which shall in any way delay shamrock packets; and whether this delay was pointed out to the Dublin authorities shortly after the instruction was circulated?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo complaints of delay to packets of shamrock posted in Dublin for England on the 14th, 15th, or 16th March have been made to the London, nor, so far as I am aware, to the Dublin office, but my attention has been called to reports in Dublin newspapers alleging such delay. If a failure to deliver on Friday, the 17th (St. Patrick's Day) has occurred in any case, it is due either to some oversight or to late posting on the part of the sender in spite of the warning notice which has been exhibited at every post office in Ireland to the effect that posting not later than Wedensday, the 15th, was necessary in order to secure delivery in England on St. Patrick's Day. The only instruction1680W issued in connection with these shamrock packets had the object, and to a considerable extent the effect, of expediting their delivery in England.