§ SIR WALTER GREENE (Bury St. Edmunds)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will state what further steps he proposes to take to improve the telephonic communication between Pad-stow and Hawker's Cove.
LORD STANLEYSince answering a Question on this subject on the 15th instant† I have seen Colonel Prideaux Brune, and I am convinced that his refusal to allow the wires to Hawker's Cove to be placed as an overhead line on the present route arose from a misunderstanding. He has now given me full leave to place the wire anywhere on his property in such I manner as to secure the best and safest route, and has further offered to defray any additional expense that may be incurred by altering the route or by placing the wire underground, if that should be found to be the best course. I am specially glad to be able to make this I announcement, in view of the honourable? connection of Colonel Prideaux Brune and his family with life saving. I am informed that his father has for a long time been Chairman of the Padstow Lifeboat Committee, and that four of his sisters have Royal Humane Society Medals; and I fully accept his assurance that nothing was further from his wishes than to interfere with life-saving operations.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Arising out of that, may I ask
† See page 142.829 the right hon. Gentleman if he will still proceed with his attempt to introduce a Bill that will Tender the recurrence of this impossible?
LORD STANLEYYes, I shall ask the House to pass the Bill, but in this case it is perfectly certain that this was the result of an entire misunderstanding. Since I drafted this reply, I have discovered that Colonel Prideaux Brune has often been himself engaged in life-saving operations.