§ Mr. FITZPATRICKasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial from the people of Rathdowney town and district asking for the restoration of the morning mail delivery service and the outgoing mail service in that town and district; and whether, having regard to the loss and inconvenience caused to the professional and business people of that locality and that there is practically no saving effected by the change, he will grant the usual collections and deliveries?
Mr. PIKE PEASEI find that it was necessary to curtail the services in the district in order to avoid the appreciable increase of expenditure which has been incurred in maintaining the former deliveries and dispatches. Similar changes have been made elsewhere, and I should not be justified in treating Rathdowney exceptionally by restoring the former arrangements. But the services can be rearranged at no great cost, so as to provide an early morning delivery in the district generally, an early morning dispatch, a delivery about 11 a.m. 1011W in the village only, and an evening dispatch at 10 p.m. If this change would meet the convenience of the residents, I will give instructions for it to be carried out as soon as possible.