§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)To ask the Postmaster General whether the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the cable arrangements between Great Britain and all parts of the Empire, ascertained, or endeavoured to ascertain, what revenue was derived from cable messages to and from this country; if so, will be state what is the revenue; and, if not, will he take steps to obtain information as to the amount expended by merchants and all others in this country in cabling messages, with a view to considering the question of purchasing the cables at a fair price.
1109 (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I was not a member of the Committee to which my hon. friend refers, but their Report and Minutes of Evidence have been published as a Parliamentary Paper [Cd. 1056] of 1902. On reference to this Paper my hon. friend will see the scope of their inquiries. The Committee reported strongly against any scheme for the general purchase of cables by the State, and I am not prepared to advise that His Majesty's Government should enter upon such an operation.