§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if it is the rule of the Telegraphic Department of the General Post Office to refuse to compensate persons for loss or expense consequent on the loss, delay, or non-delivery of a telegram, and to refuse to communicate to the person injured the names of the defaulting office or officials?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES, Cambridge University)If the hon. Member will be so good as to refer to Clause 6 of the notice which is printed on the back of the forms on which the public write their telegrams, he will find an answer to the first part of his question. The clause reads as follows:—
6. The Postmaster General will not be liable for any loss or damage which may be incurred or sustained by reason or on account of any mistake or default in the transmission or delivery of a telegram.As to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I may say that it is not the practice to give the names of the subordinate officials concerned in the transmission of a telegram or to name the office where a mistake may have occurred. Indeed, in a great many cases it would be impossible to do so, as it cannot always be ascertained with certainty where the fault has occurred or whether it is not due to some momentary disturbance of the wires or other apparatus. The conduct of any defaulting officials is always made the subject of strict inquiry by the Department.