§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will cause to be prepared in the Telegraph Department, for laying before the House, a Report showing the financial results of the reduction of the charge of telegrams to sixpence, giving the number monthly since the change in comparison with the previous year, the number of telegrams at various rates of charge, and the average number of words used for addresses, showing also the increased expenses and the receipts for registered addresses?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the Question of the hon. Member, I regret that I am unable to give the whole of the particulars asked for. I have, however, caused a statement to be prepared which gives some very interesting particulars in regard to the increase of telegraphic business under the new tariff. This Return is too long to read to the House, but I will give the following figures:—For the last three months of 1885 and the first three months of 1886, as compared with the corresponding months of 1884 and 1885,I find that the number of telegrams under the new tariff reached 16,787,540, as against 11,314,423 under the old tariff, showing an increase of 5,473,117, while the revenue derived from these telegrams and from the additional amount received in respect of the registration of abbreviated addresses, as compared with that received in the corresponding six months, was less by £22,000. For the five completed months of the present financial year, as compared with the corresponding months of the last financial year, the number of messages is 17,369,161, as compared with 11,125,794, showing an increase of 6,243,367, or 56 per cent; and, although the loss of revenue in 1268 April and May was £15,000, the revenue in the last three months has been greater by £12,000—the loss of revenue for the five months being, therefore, about £3,000. The present month will, I think, show a similar increase of business, and it is probable that the small loss of £3,000 will nearly disappear. I am unable, at the present time, to furnish the House with the further particulars asked for by the hon. Member; but the Department has already taken steps for obtaining the figures asked for, and, as soon as I am in a position to do so, I will furnish the hon. Member with the figures he desires. In the meantime I shall be ready, if the hon. Member will move for it, to furnish, as an unopposed Return, the particulars contained in the Paper some details of which I have read to the House.