§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the form of telegraph insulator now adopted by the Telegraph Department is the subject of letters patent; and, whether the patentee is in the service of the Department; and, if so, whether the Post Office pays royalty in respect of such insulators, or whether the insulators are purchased in the ordinary manner by open tender, and the price paid for such insulators?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. and gallant Member, I have to state that the form of telegraph insulator generally used by the Post Office is the subject of letters patent. The patentee is an officer of the Post Office; but no separate royalty is paid in respect of such insulator. The insulator can only be obtained from one firm, who are the sole makers of the article, and therefore open tenders cannot be called for. The price paid is 10¼d. per insulator.