§ 24. Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received memorials from the cities of Dundee, Arbroath, and Aberdeen urging the extension of the underground telegraph from Edinburgh to those cities; and whether, having in view the periodical overthrow of the overhead telegraph and the consequent disorganisation of business, as was recently exemplified by the storm of 26th and 27th November last, he can hold out any hope of getting this work carried out in the near future?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have received memorials from these three cities, and I have agreed to receive a deputation soon after the Christmas Recess.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTWill the right hon. Gentleman receive a representative from the Arbroath Chamber of Commerce?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am most anxious that the deputation should be as representative as possible. I shall be very happy if the Arbroath Chamber of Commerce will send a representative.
§ 25. Mr. AINSWORTHasked the Post master-General whether he is aware that the telegraphic cable between the islands of Mull, Coll, and Tiree has been broken since the 22nd November, and that during this period the difficulty of communication has been seriously increased in consequence of the regular steamer having been 1079 withdrawn by the contractors, Messrs. D. MacBrayne and Co., Limited, of Glasgow, and an inferior boat substituted; whether he is aware that the inhabitants of the island of Mull are also complaining of the inefficiency of the boat at present supplied by the same contractors for the mail and passenger service of that island; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELUnless bad weather intervenes, I hope that, the cable will be repaired in the course of the next few days. I am aware of the circumstances as regards both the steamer services to which the hon. Member refers, and I am having inquiry made whether some improvement can be effected.
§ Mr. AINSWORTHWith regard to communication with the island of Tiree will the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to bear in mind the fact that the existing telegraph service has broken down three times in the last twelve months, and that it always breaks down whenever there is a severe storm, and will he also bear in mind the fact that the inefficiency of the mail service is notorious, and will he consider the advisability of establishing a system of wireless telegraphy?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI will certainly make careful inquiry into the circumstances to which the hon. Gentleman has called attention.
28. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Postmaster-General if he has received a petition from Papa Westray praying that telegraphic communication be established with the island of Westray, and if he will inquire into the circumstances of the case; and if the Post Office would bear the same proportion of the cost as they have done in other cases?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI received the petition on the 12th instant and am enquiring into the circumstances.