§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)On behalf of the hon Member for Kent, Ashford (Mr. LAURENCE HARDY), I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General—(1) whether he is aware that communication has been established by means of electric bell circuits between the fire station at Ashford and the residences of the officers and members of the brigade, and also between the fire 593 station and the police station; that, similarly, electric bell communication has been established between a very large number of fire brigade stations throughout the kingdom and the residences of their members and the local police stations; and that such communication is maintained without charge solely for the purpose of facilitating the prompt extinction of fire and the saving of life and property; (2) whether the postal authorities in March last gave notice to the fire brigade at Ashford, and to the other fire brigades above referred to, that the use of electric bell communication for the purposes aforesaid was an infringement of the Postmaster General's exclusive telegraphic rights under the Telegraph Act of 1869,32 and 33 Vic, c. 73, and further staled that the Department was prepared to undertake the provision of such circuits; (3) whether he is aware that the electric bell communication referred to is employed without charge for transmission, and that the Department could in no case derive any profit from it; and, (4) whether, if advised that a technical breach of his telegraphic rights has occurred in these cases, he will, nevertheless, waive his rights in the matter, and remit all fines and penalties incurred; or, if this should be impossible, introduce a short Bill enabling him to do so?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe Postmaster General is aware of the existence of the communications referred to in the first paragraph of the hon. Member's Question. He is also aware that the object of such communications is to facilitate the prompt extinction of fire and the saving of life and property, and that at Ashford and, as a rule, elsewhere no charge is made for their use. It is the fact that the notice referred to in the second paragraph was given in the case of Ashford. The Postmaster General is advised that the telegraphs which have been provided at Ashford constitute an infringement of his exclusive rights, but it is not a case in which he would think of imposing onerous conditions, or of exacting fines and penalties, and he has no doubt that the matter can be suitably arranged with the local authorities.