§ MR. FELLOWES (Huntingdonshire, Ramsay)I beg to ask the Postmaster General what are the rules regulating the establishment of telegraph offices in country districts; whether a parish of 1,300 inhabitants, within half a mile of main wires, and with parishes round comprising over 2,000 inhabitants, are to be put to the inconvenience and 1824 expense arising from a want of telegraph office; and whether, the finding of a. sufficient guarantee in a poor parish being found to be impossible, he will take into his further consideration the possibility of establishing a telegraph office at Sawtry, Hunts?
§ * MR. RAIKESIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the rule laid down by the Treasury in regard to the establishment of telegraph offices is that, if it is estimated that the revenue will not cover the expenses of the office, a guarantee must be given to secure the Post Office against loss. The main wires to which the hon. Member refers cannot be made available for serving a telegraph office at Sawtry. It would be necessary to erect a new wire nearly seven miles in length; and I regret to say that it is not in my power to provide this wire and open a telegraph office unless a guarantee of £32 a year be given.