§ 61. Mr. PRETYMANasked the Post master-General whether a charge of 5s. is now made for radio-telegrams furnishing local weather reports to vessels at sea; whether these reports were supplied without charge when the wireless stations were in private hands; and, if so, whether he can see his way to again furnish this necessary information free of charge?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe charge of 5s. referred to by the hon. Member is made to cover the cost of the radio-telegram conveying a weather report to a ship as well as the radio-telegram asking for the information, and is below the ordinary rates. The Marconi Company when they owned the shore stations supplied reports of this kind free of charge. On the other hand, the International Conference on Wireless Telegraphy which recently sat in London resolved that this service ought not to be gratuitous. Radio-telegrams relating to the position of derelicts and other objects dangerous to navigation are transmitted to ships gratuitously from the Post Office stations, and the statement recently published to the contrary is incorrect. As at present advised, I see no reason why the same privilege should be granted in the case of weather reports at the cost of the taxpayer.