§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the telegraph rate from England to India is 4s. a word, and the telegraph rate from England to Australia vià India, but double the distance, is also only 4s. per word; whether he is aware that this latter concession was brought about by the Telegraph Companies and the Australasian Governments jointly agreeing to share any loss arising from the reduction of rates from 9s. to 4s. per word; whether he has ascertained that the joint loss has on the first year only amounted to about £12,500 aside, and is expected to involve no expense after the second year; and whether he has taken any steps to recommend the giving of a similar guarantee by the British and Indian Governments, whereby the rates to India may be reduced from 4s. to 1s. per word?
§ * THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.The lately-reduced telegraph rates to Australia and Tasmania may be said to be about 4s. a word. To Queensland and New Zealand they remain at about 10s. To India the charge is 4s. The reduction was brought about by the Governments concerned and the Eastern and Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies agreeing to bear jointly any loss that it might entail. Her Majesty's Government were not parties to the agreement, and we are not aware what the consequent loss has been. I have not any intention of proposing a similar reduction and guarantee in regard to India; and I have reason to believe that the conditions of commercial life in India would not produce any increase of business commensurate to, or approaching, the loss of revenue which would be the result.