§ COLONEL NOLANasked the Postmaster General, If he would take steps to publish at the country post offices, during the coming hay and corn harvests, such selections from the weather predictions of the Meteorological Department as may be of use to the farmers of the districts?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to a similar Question two years ago I expressed my regret that, after very carefully looking into the matter, I did not see my way to accede to the proposal, because it appeared that if the Government supplied telegrams gratuitously to those inte- 1095 rested in agriculture, it would be impossible to refuse similar applications from those engaged in other trades. I further stated that I believed that there would be little difficulty in securing the object desired, because the Meteorological Office supplies weather forecasts gratuitously to anyone who is willing to pay the expense of telegraphing, which very rarely exceeds 1s. I pointed out that if the farmers in any district jointly subscribed, the expense to each would be very inconsiderable. The forecasts might be exhibited at the post-office, and in the case of those farmers who resided within the area of free delivery the message could be delivered at the small extra cost of 3d. for each additional copy.