MR. ALDERMAN W. LAWRENCEasked the Postmaster General, Whether he can inform the House what is the proposal of the Government with regard to sixpenny telegrams; and, when it is probable the new Tariff will come into operation?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, in reply to my hon. Friend, I may state that no decision has yet been come to with regard to the particular plan that may be adopted to give effect to the decision that the minimum charge for inland telegrams should be reduced to 6d. In addition to the three plans described in the Treasury Minute, issued last year, five others have been for some time under the consideration of the Department; but the attempt to estimate the financial results of adopting any one of them involves many intricate details. With regard to the date of the introduction of the reduced tariff, the Government has been reluctantly led to the conclusion not to introduce it at the date originally fixed, and the precise time will be left open until my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his Financial Statement, when the Government will be in a position to determine it.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSDo any of these plans include the retention of free addresses?
§ MR. FAWCETTYes; one plan suggests free addresses; another that free addresses should be limited to 10 words; and a third that they should be limited to eight words. All the plans will be laid on the Table and the facts bearing on them, so far as we can get them.