MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck) (for Mr. JOICEY) (Durham, Chester-le-Street)asked the Postmaster General, If, to suit the public convenience, he will consider whether he can arrange to allow Railway Companies to 1353 transmit public telegrams by their private wires during hours in which the postal telegraph offices are closed, or at any time where no postal telegraph office exists within a reasonable distance of the population surrounding the railway station; and, whether such arrangements would increase the revenue of his Department without any expenditure of capital on the part of the Post Office?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)I have to state that there are nearly 1,600 railway stations now open for the transaction of telegraph business during hours fixed by the Companies; and in cases of emergency telegrams are, with my entire concurrence, accepted at other times and also at other stations. Such telegrams are included in the accounts with the Department, and the Companies receive the usual commission for transmitting them.