§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the ignorance which prevails in Great Britain in regard to Indian affairs, he will consider the desirability of the Imperial Government taking early action towards the reduction of the Press and private telegraphic rates to India, which compare unfavourably with those to other British Possessions.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The last reduction in the private telegraphic rate to India was effected in 1905, when the rate was reduced to 2s. a word, and the attention of the telegraph companies was at the same time called to the desirability of a further reduction in the Press rate, which had been reduced from Is. 4d. to Is. in 1902; but the companies were unwilling to agree, and the development of the traffic since 1905 has not been such as to justify a further endeavour to obtain a reduction in the rates. The subject will, however, continue to receive my careful attention.
§ SIR EDWARD SASSOONTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that during the past few months, owing to the conditions under which telegraphic news is supplied from India to England, and from England to India, complaints have arisen as to the insufficiency and misleading character of the news in regard, especially, to political events and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Motley.) I have seen such complaints in the newspapers, and it is with the newspapers rather than with His Majesty's Government that it would seem to rest to take any action which may be desired.