§ MR. O'REILLYasked the Postmaster General, Why it is that whilst the charge for a telegram from any place in the United Kingdom to any other is one shilling, and the charge for a telegram from any place in France to any other place in that Country is one shilling and three pence, the lowest charge for a telegram between France and England is four shillings; and, whether there is any probability of this charge being reduced?
§ MR. MONSELLSir, the rates chargeable on inland telegrams do not necessarily bear any relation to the charges made upon telegrams addressed to places abroad. Each State or Submarine Telegraph Company over whose lines telegrams pass requires to be paid the rates fixed at the International Telegraph Conference, held at Rome in January last year. The Department has no power to alter these rates without the concurrence of the Administrations concerned. There is no immediate prospect of the rates between France and England being reduced; the lowest charge, however, for a message of 20 words is 3s. 4d., and not 4s., as stated in my hon. Friend's Question.