§ MR. COMPTON RICKETT (Scarborough)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Telegraphs (Telephonic Communication, &c.) Bill this session; if so, whether he can state when the Second Reading of the Bill will be taken; I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Government could make the provisions of the Telegraphs (Telephonic Communication, &c.) Bill applicable to non-county boroughs as well as to county boroughs; failing this, whether the Government would give special consideration to the cases of those non-county boroughs whose rateable value exceeds that of some of the county boroughs.
§ * MR. HANBURYI am sorry if the Telegraphs Bill has been delayed owing to my absence; but I hope that the Second Reading will be taken soon after Whitsuntide, It is intended to make the provisions of the Bill extend to urban sanitary districts, subject, of course to the discretion of the Postmaster-General in individual cases.