§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware of the discontent existing in commercial circles with the tariff of charges enforced by the Cable Companies, ranging from 4s. a word to India up to 9s. 5d. a word to Queensland, 10s. 8d. a word to Japan, and 12s. 11d. a word to British Guiana; whether he has been informed that the merchants engaged in Anglo-Australian trade, and the public generally, have to pay considerably over £1,000 a day or £412,000 a year, for cablegrams, and the Government at least £100,000 a year in communicating with the colonies and foreign governments and with its naval and military officers; is he aware that experts have estimated that a set of cables in every respect equal to those existing could be constructed, paid for, and maintained by the State at a cost which would give to the people cheap cable communication to all parts of the Empire for a tenth of the present rates; and whether, seeing that all the chief cables of the world belong to a few British companies, which are practically under one common and supreme direction, and pay large dividends, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the whole question of cable communication, and the effects of the present charges as regards the trade and security of the Empire, and also the question of the 654 acquisition of the existing cables by the State, with a view to extend and cheapen cable communication?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General has from time to time received representations on the subject of the charge to India, and has endeavoured to bring about a reduction, but so far without success. The charge to Japan by the cheapest route is 8s., not 10s. 8d., and to British Guiana not 12s. 11d., but 10s., He is not aware of any general feeling of discontent, and, as he does not think that any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry into the questions raised by the hon. Member, he is not prepared to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission. The Postmaster General has no information as to the amount paid for telegrams by merchants engaged in the Anglo-Australian trade, and it is not within his province to state what the expenditure of the Government is on telegrams to and from places abroad. The Postmaster General has not had before him any calculations as to the cost of constructing and maintaining a set of cables to take the place of those which are already in existence, and he has no reason to suppose that cable communication to all parts of the Empire could be given for a tenth of the present rates. It would seem to be entirely contrary to sound policy for the State to attempt to acquire all the existing cables. They are necessarily landed at a great many points in foreign territory, and it is not to be supposed that foreign countries would acquiesce in the working of the cables by the British Government, although they are quite ready to come to terms with British companies. At the Telegraph Conference in Budapest arrangements were made for very considerable reductions in the charges to various parts of the world. Some of these reductions are already in force, and the rest will be brought into operation on the 1st of July next. I may add that these arrangements could not have been made without the cordial co-operation of the British cable companies.