§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE () Gloucestershire, Forest of DeanI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state to the House whether the Eastern Telegraph Company has asked for any aid from the Imperial Government in connection with its proposals to lay a direct cable between the Cape and Australia, now accepted by the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania; and, if so, whether he can state to the House the general nature of any such request.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.No application for a subsidy has reached the Treasury in connection with the present proposals, and, so far as I know, no subsidy is asked for