Letter from John Robert O'Brien to Sir Robert Chalmers, 15 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 John Robert O'Brien

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This letter was written by John Robert O'Brien (b. 1856) to Sir Robert Chalmers (1858-1938). In the letter O'Brien inquires whether the government intends to open any depot from which petrol supplies could be obtained by public departments for the use of their offices while travelling on business. Due to the war it was increasingly difficult to obtain petrol supplies but O'Brien requests that the board be allowed to stock a small supply of petrol for issue to their offices as required.O'Brien served as the secretary for the Congested District Board. The CDB was established in 1891 in order to alleviate poverty and congested living conditions in the west and north-western parts of Ireland. Sir Robert Chalmers was sent to Ireland as under-secretary, replacing Sir Matthew Nathan who had resigned along with Augustine Birrell , his chief secretary following the Easter Rising in 1916.

 National Archives of Ireland Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, CSO RP/1916/8260/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/293 English John Robert O'Brien 1916-05-15 23 Rutland Square, Dublin, Ireland. Robert Chalmers Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland. Male Industry and Public Administration Industry and Public Administration

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 CONGESTED DISTRICTS BOARD FOR IRELAND, 23 RUTLAND SQUARE DUBLIN, 15th May, 1916. Sir, With reference to previous correspondence regarding the supply of petrol in Ireland, I am directed by the Congested Districts Board for Ireland to state that they would be obliged if you would be good enough to inform them whether it is the intention of the Government to open any Depot from which supplies of petrol could be obtained by Public Departments for use by A their Officers when travelling on business, or whether there is any Firm with which the Government has any arrangement as to issue of supplies for use on their service. Having regard to the increased difficulty in obtaining supplies, the Board propose, if there is no objection, to stock a small supply of petrol for issue to their Officers as required; but before doing so, they desire to be informed whether it is the intention of the Irish Government to open any such Depot for supplies for Public Offices. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, J. R. O'Brien The Under Secretary, DUBLIN CASTLE. 23 Rutland Square, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from John Robert O'Brien to Sir Robert Chalmers, 15 May 1916 Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from Max S. Green to Sir Matthew Nathan, 6 May 1916Letter from Blake & Kenny to Sir Matthew Nathan, 29 April 1916Letter from H.S. Hunter to Sir Matthew Nathan, 26 April 1916Letter from John Robert O'Brien to Sir Robert Chalmers, 15 May 1916Letter from C.H. Hunter to Sir Robert Chalmers, 6 June 1916.Letter from John Condon to The Under Secretary, 17 June, 1916Letter from Valentine Dunn to Robert Chalmers Esq., 19 June, 1916Letter from Thomas M. Gerrard to the Under Secretary of State for Ireland, 19 June, 1916Letter from John J. Ham to the Under-Secretary, 19 June 1916Letter from Dermot MacDermot to Edward O'Farrell, 19 June 1916.Letter from Dermot MacDermot to Edward O'Farrell, 21 June 1916Letter from George F. Montgomery to the Under-Secretary, 20 June 1916Letter from Robert Elder to the Under Secretary, 30 June, 1916Letter from Henry J. Walker to the Lord Lieutenant, 30 June, 1916Letter from Thomas Bodkin and Arnold F. Graves to the Under Secretary, 1 August, 1916Letter from W. P. Henry to L. T. Silvester, 4 August, 1916Letter from the Secretary, Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police, to Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, 26 October 1916Letter from Philip C. P. MacDermot to Sir Henry Arthur Wynne, 11 May 1916Letter from Jasper Travers Wolfe to Sir Robert Chalmers, 15 May 1916Letter from Eugene Callanan to Sir Robert Chalmers, 5 June 1916Circular letter from Edward O'Farrell to Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitors, 20 June 1916Letter to the Chief Secretary of Ireland, 9 June 1916Letter from George M. Marshall to Sir Robert Chalmers, 8 June 1916Letter from J. Houlihan to Sir Robert Chalmers, 8 June 1916Letter from William John Kingston to Sir Robert Chalmers, 8 June 1916.Letter from Ernest G. Moggridge to the Under-Secretary, Dublin Castle, 9 June 1916Letter from John Condon to the Under-Secretary, 23 June 1916Letter to the Chairman of the General Prisons Board, 3 June 1916Letter from Dublin Castle to Rev. James Moody, 2 June 1916Letter from Humphrey Pearson to Robert Chalmers, 21 June 1916 John Robert O'Brien Letter from John Robert O'Brien to Sir Robert Chalmers, 15 May 1916Letter from John Robert O'Brien to Robert Chalmers, 17 May 1916