§ MR. RAIKESsaid, he wished to ask the Postmaster General, Whether it is the fact that since the telegraph has been under the control of the Government the practice of requiring the persons to whom telegraphic messages are sent to sign receipts snowing the time of the delivery of such messages has been discontinued?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply to the Question of the hon. Member, said, that it was true that the practice of requiring a receipt for telegrams had been discontinued, on the ground that such practice was fraught with a delay which it was desirable to get rid of. He had not down to the present moment heard that the discontinuance of that practice had led to any inconvenience or to any serious complaints; but, of course, if it were found that any substantial security were lost by its discontinuance, it would be the duty of the Government to see whether that security could not be obtained without reverting to a system involving delay.