§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been drawn to the remark in the Report of the Select Committee on Revenue Estimates of 11th July, 1888, as to the loss to the State from "the enormous increase of services gratuitously performed for the Railway Companies" by messages so sent under a contract made in 1870, and also 882 to the reference made to this matter by the late Postmaster General in Committee of Supply, on 23rd July, 1890; and whether he can now say how the matter stands as between the State and the Railway Companies?
§ * SIR JAMES FERGUSSONThis matter has for a long time received the anxious consideration of the Post Office, and we have been during the last few months in communication, by meetings and correspondence, with the representatives of the Railway Companies. No arrangement has yet been arrived at, and the last communication was from the Post Office. In the meantime I am glad to say that the growth of the loss in question appears to have ceased.