§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON () CanterburyTo ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the cost of cable messages from London to the Gambia is 3s. 6d. per word, to the Gold Coast 5s. 8d. per word, to Lagos 6s. 3d. per word, and to Nigeria 6s. 4d. per word, all English Colonies on the West Coast of Arica, viz., Senegal, Conakry, lvory Coast, Dahomey, and French Congo, the charge is only one franc per word, although 903 these colonies are only from 100 to 150 miles distant from the English Colonies; whether he is aware that the English cable companies are endeavouring to make arrangements with the French companies to raise their rates to these colonies; and whether he will take steps to reduce the telegraph rate to the West Coast of Africa to the level of the rate from London to Capetown.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) My hon. Friend has, I think, been misinformed with regard to the rates from France to the French West African possessions. According to the information in my possession, the rates from France to the possessions specified are as follows: Senegal, 1fr. 50c. (say 1s. 2½d.); Conakry, 5fr. 51c. (say 4S. 5d.); Ivory Coast, 6fr. 11c. to 6fr. 31c. (say 4s. 11d. to 5s 1d.); Dahomey, 7fr. 61c. (say 6s. 1d.); French Congo, 8fr. 21c. (say 6s. 7d.) I am not aware that any arrangements are being made to raise the rates. As regards the rates from this country to the British West African possessions, the recent Inter-Departmental Committee on Cable Communications recommended that an attempt should be made to obtain a reduction in connection with the renewal of the Eastern Telegraph Company's landing rights at Porthcurno, and this recommendation will in due course be considered by His Majesty's Government.