MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether military officers serving in South Africa can communicate with their friends at home at 2s. per word of a Unicode which may comprise a sentence, and ordinary soldiers are charged 4s. per word or message; and whether the Unicode at 2s. per word will be made available for all soldiers who may desire to use it.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonThe charge for private telegrams from South Africa to this country is four shillings per word, and for Government telegrams two shillings per word. The Postmaster General is not 1422 aware of any distinction being made between the telegrams of officers and those of private soldiers. He is, however, in communication with the Secretary of State for War on the subject, and will inform the hon. Member of the result of the inquiry. Private telegrams in code are at present not allowed by the military authorities to be sent either to or from South Africa.