MR. GOLDSMIDasked the Postmaster General, What steps have been taken with regard to the recommendations of the Committee which sat last Session to consider the management of the Telegraphs?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERS, in reply, said, that in August a scheme for the re-organization of the Telegraph Department, based upon the Report of the Select Committee, was submitted by him to the Treasury, and it was still under the consideration of the Government. With respect to the Press, he had thought it inexpedient to do more than 167 simply adopt the suggestion made by the Committee, that each message requiring a separate transmission and delivery should be separately charged for at the rate of 1s. for one address, with a charge of 2d. for every additional address. Systematic inquiries had been and were still being made into the exact telegraphic requirements of each post-office, and in all possible cases steps had been taken, as suggested by the Committee, to diminish the force employed. The Committee had further suggested that a profit and loss account, of a commercial character, should be prepared in order to be laid before Parliament, and he had submitted an account of that nature to the Treasury for the purpose of being submitted to both Houses of Parliament.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERasked whether the noble Lord would lay on the Table the new regulations with regard to the Press?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSCertainly.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSThat is rather a question for the Treasury when it has decided upon the subject.