HC Deb 06 June 1890 vol 345 cc151-2
MR. LENG (Dundee)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether it has been brought under his notice that Lloyds' Committee has proposed to the International Telegraph Convention, now sitting in Paris, that the signalling fee at Continental signal stations should be reduced from two francs to one franc, in return for which Lloyds' propose to reduce the signalling fee at Lloyds' signal stations, both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, from 2s. 6d. to 1s.; and whether, in view of the great advantage of the proposed reductions of these signalling fees to shipowners, merchants, charterers, and underwriters in this country, the Government has instructed its Representatives to support them in the Paris Conference, with the view of preventing a renewal of the higher rates for the next five years?

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) University of Cambridge

The; proposal which I understand Lloyds' Committee are now desirous of submitting to the International Telegraph Conference is that if the signalling fee at Continental stations be reduced to one franc, the Committee will reduce to is the fee for messages from Lloyds' signal stations in the United Kingdom to shipowners not resident in the United Kingdom. I am not aware of any intention on the part of the Committee to place shipowners resident in the United Kingdom in the same position. I need hardly say that the British delegates will be very glad to use their best offices to secure any reduction the foreign Governments may see their way to make in the present fee.