§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Postmaster General, On whose recommendation the telegraph insulators generally used by the Post Office were adopted; how many of these insulators, approximately, are in use; whether, in the price paid to the makers, any sum is reserved for the patentee; and, if so, what amount; whether it is to the public advantage that the supplies should be obtained from one firm only; and, if he will take steps to ascertain the ordinary market value of the insulators, and to obtain future supplies by open tender in the usual way?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the telegraph insulators generally used by the Post Office were adopted on the recommendation of the late engineer-in-chief of the Department, and that there are probably more than l,250,000 of them in use. I have no knowledge of the relations as to payment or otherwise between the patentee and the manufacturers. As I stated in answer to the hon. Member's previous Question, these insulators can only be obtained from one firm, who are the sole makers. Supplies, therefore, cannot be obtained by open tenders. I may add that a new form of insulator is being tried, and that 10,000 of this form have been ordered for a more extended trial during the present year.