§ 71. Captain MURRAYasked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the House any information in regard to the destruction of the aerial telegraph wires and the underground cables between London and Glasgow on the 8th February?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELOn the 7th instant the underground telegraph cable between London and Glasgow was blown up maliciously in the neighbourhood of Hamilton, but it was repaired by the 9th. On the 8th some damage occurred to the serial wires between London and Glasgow 944 owing to stress of weather, but communication was at no time wholly interrupted. The maximum delay to messages was one hour and three-quarters.
§ Captain MURRAYIs there any reason to suppose that the persons who committed destruction were militant suffragettes?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is suspected that is the case.
§ 73. Mr. BRADYasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the frequent suspension, through stress of weather, of telegraphic communication between England and Ireland, he is prepared to lay down underground wires throughout the whole telegraphic routes or, in the alternative, in that part of such route as experience has proved the most trying weather conditions prevail?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELTelegraphic communication between England and Ireland has only once been suspended since 1875, namely, in February, 1903. There are eleven cables between Great Britain and Ireland connecting with the main telegraphic system at four different points on the coasts of Wales or Scotland, so that the risk of a simultaneous breakdown of the services is small. The cost of underground routes would be very heavy and quite disproportionate to that risk.
§ Mr. BRADYMay I ask whether, in view of the fact that there are existing wires at present between London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and other centres, it would be possible, and perhaps he might give favourable consideration to the suggestion, to connect the Island of Anglesey with the nearest point in England at which there are underground wires?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt has been considered, but there are several alternative routes. In case the route viâ Anglesey was interrupted by storm the other routes would at once be brought into operation with very small delay.
§ Mr. BRADYIs it not the fact that the route viâ Anglesey is very frequently interrupted by stress of weather?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo. I think not very frequently.