§ MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that telegraphic communication with Melbourne and Sydney has repeatedly been interrupted during the past five months; who is responsible for the satisfactory maintenance of the Australian transcontinental telegraph line on which the interruptions occurred; and whether any steps can be taken by Her Majesty's Government to prevent these: repeated failures of communication?
§ MR. HANBURYThe interruptions mentioned in the Question occurred on both the transcontinental lines. These are maintained by the South Australian and Western Australian Colonies respectively. Her Majesty's Government is not in a position to take any steps to prevent the failures of communication, which are, it is understood, caused by storms. The cable companies have, however, put forward a scheme, in connection with the question of an alternative cable service, for taking a cable direct to a point near Adelaide, and this will, no doubt, be duly considered by the Colonies concerned.