HC Deb 07 December 1908 vol 198 cc64-5
SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state the express terms on which the Eastern and South Africa Telegraph Company became a partner in the Indian Joint-Purse Pool, and to what extent, if any, India has suffered loss in her transit tax from the diversion of Australian telegraph traffic to the Australia-to-Africa cable; and whether the traffic from the Dutch Indies, formerly transmitting through India, has been diminished, and, if so, to what extent, by the establishment of the spur cable lately laid from Batavia to the Cocos (or Keeling) Islands to join the Australia-to-Africa cable.

THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)

It would be necessary to obtain the consent of all the partners in the Indian Joint-Purse Agreement before the express terms on which the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company became a partner in this Joint-Purse could be made public. The opening of the Australia-to-Africa cable has diminished the volume of traffic yielding a transit tax to India. This loss for the official year, 1907–1908 is estimated to have been about £23,000. The opening of the Batavia-Cocos cable in April last allows of the diversion of traffic from and to the Dutch Indies. Figures are not available to show the loss to India by diversion.

SIR EDWARD SASSOON

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to secure that the public shall have due notice of these arrangements?

MR. BUCHANAN

I do not think I can promise that.

SIR EDWARD SASSOON

But, in view of the position of affairs, it is very necessary.

MR. BUCHANAN

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down another Question.