§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, why, having regard to the fact that officers of the Crown whose salaries are provided for out of the Imperial funds are empowered to send telegrams on Government service without payment, answers to these telegrams, which are frequently imperatively demanded, should be charged for, and, whether arrangements will be made to send free of expense replies by telegram to official communications when these are specifically demanded?
§ MR. HANBURYA responsible officer of the Crown at the headquarters of a Government Department may, if the circumstances justify it, send a telegram on official business to a member of the public as a reply paid telegram; and the Postmaster General, in whose opinion I concur, thinks this is as far as he can allow the privilege to extend.