HC Deb 19 March 1896 vol 38 cc1336-7
MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in view of his statement that the Telegraph Vote of, £25,000, if divided equally among the counties the share of any six counties would be about £1,300, and if divided according to population the share of the six Highland counties of Inverness, Argyllshire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney and Shetland would be less than £240, will he state what would be the share of such counties if the Vote were divided according to area?

MR. HANBURY

The answer is, nearly £3,000, but I may observe that telegraphs are provided for the use of the people inhabiting any district, and population, not acreage, is therefore the more accurate test of their necessity.

MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the number of telegraph offices which have been established since the transfer of the telegraphs to the State in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and in the Highlands of Scotland, viz., Inverness, Argyllshire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney and Shetland?

MR. HANBURY

On the day of the transfer the number of telegraph offices of all kinds in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland was 2,932. The number now is 9,915, or an increase of 6,983; 275 of the new offices are situated in the six counties mentioned by the hon. Member.

MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, whether, in view of the urgency of the claims made by the Scottish Fishery Board Commissioners in their last Report for telegraph extensions in the Highlands in the interest of the fishing industry, lie will make efforts to secure the establishment of additional telegraph offices in the Highlands during the present year?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir CHARLES PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities

A sum of £1,000 has been placed on the Highlands and Islands (Public Works) Estimate for 1896–7 for telegraph extensions, and the mode in which the sum can best be utilised will be considered.