§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNE (Stafford, Lichfield)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether Her Majesty's Government will, during the Recess, consider the desirability of enforcing some equitable arrangement by which all railway stations in the United Kingdom will be available to the public for despatching telegrams during the usual hours—namely, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.; and during the night, by paying an additional fee of reasonable amount, more especially with a view to facilitate sending police messages during the night from country stations to the neighbouring cities?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENEEAL (Mr. RAIKES, University of Cambridge)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that I shall always be glad to communicate with Railway Companies with 1762 regard to any reasonable application for the transaction of telegraph business at additional railway stations, but I am not in a position to enforce the performance of such duties at all stations. At many stations the companies do not, I believe, possess the necessary facilities. I stated, in answer to previous questions, that nearly 1,600 railway stations are already open for the transaction of telegraph business on behalf of the Post Office, and that this number is constantly increasing. Arrangements already exist whereby, on payment of an additional fee, telegrams can be despatched from Telegraph Offices after the usual hours when the attention of the Transmitting Office can be gained, and I hope there is no rsason to think that the Railway Companies do not afford every facility in this respect in cases of emergency.