LORD CLAUD JOHN HAMILTONsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, If it is true that members of Stock Exchanges in large towns have a priority over all other communications transmitted by the Post Office Telegraphs; and, whether they have any advantages which the public do not enjoy with regard to the payment of messages?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that before the transfer of the telegraphs to the Post Office the Stock Exchanges of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and, he believed, other towns, were connected by special wires; and some facilities were given to the members of these Stock Exchanges, in the shape of a short credit, for the settlement of their accounts. Those advantages were continued to them by the Post Office; but he was not aware of any priority or of any other advantages given to them over the public generally.
§ MR. LEAsaid, he would beg to ask the Postmaster General, If he is able to give an opinion as to what average time ought to be occupied between the reception of a telegraphic message at any of the chief district Post Offices of the Metropolis and its delivery within one mile of the terminal office in any important town within 200 miles; and, if he does not consider two hours much too long?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied, that it was impossible for him to say what exact time ought to elapse between the sending and the delivery of a message such as those referred to by the hon. Member. The time depended on the state of the wires and the amount of business. If the hon. Member alluded to the transmission of a message from Telegraph Street direct, the time ought not to be more than from twenty to thirty minutes. If the wires were in proper working order, two hours would be too a long a time. If the hon. Member knew of any particular case in which there had been undue delay, the better course would be to bring it under the notice of the Department.