§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)To ask the Postmaster-General by what line or lines unrouted messages are sent from England to Australia by the Post Office here; also how similar messages destined for England are dealt with in Australia; and will he state which route is to be adopted as the voic normale.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Unrouted telegrams from this country to Australia are sent by the Pacific cable. I have no information as to the disposal of such telegrams in the reverse direction. Both the Pacific cable route and those of the Eastern and Indo-European Telegraph Companies are regarded as normal routes.