§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how much is the annual loss to the Post Office incurred by the system of cheap rates for newspaper telegrams; what is the advantage derived by the nation in return for this loss; and if he will introduce legislation to put newspapers on the same terms in this respect as the general public.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarThe present rates for Press telegrams are specifically provided for under the Telegraph Act of 1868. The estimated annual loss involved is about £220,000, in return for which the nation enjoys such advantages as are derived from the dissemination of news at a cheap rate. I am not proposing legislation of the character suggested by my hon. friend.