§ MR. H. H. FOWLERasked the Postmaster General, Whether the clerks in the telegraph offices are prohibited from giving any information as to the persons sending telegrams, the persons to whom they are sent, and the contents of such telegrams; and, whether any official disclosing any such information would be dismissed from the public service?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, I can assure my hon. Friend that any persons in the employment of the Post Office giving any information as to the persons sending telegrams, the persons to whom they 1356 are sent, or the contents of such telegrams, would not only be dismissed from the public service, but would, by Section 20 of the Telegraph Act of 1867, render themselves liable to prosecution. I may mention that in November last two telegraphists were convicted at Manchester of disclosing the contents of telegrams, and were sentenced—one to 12 and the other to six months' imprisonment, while a man, not in the service of the Department, who solicited the information, was also sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.