HC Deb 16 January 1913 vol 46 cc2263-5
93. Mr. WILKIE

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the further dislocation of business through the recent storm and the corrected figures he has secured as to the amount of telegraphic business of the East and North of Scotland, in justice to the people of the North of Scotland, he will reconsider his answer to the deputation of last week and now proceed with the underground cables to Dundee and the North?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

As Unformed my hon. Friend the Member for South Aberdeen yesterday, the storm on Friday and Saturday caused interruptions of telegraphic communication no more with the East and North of Scotland than with Ireland, and with the Midlands and North of England; and the underground telegraph lines to Newcastle and Leeds have not prevented telegrams for these towns being delayed more than those for the East and North of Scotland. Underground lines, though a safeguard against complete isolation, are little safeguard against delay, for they are not suitable for fast working, and in no part of the world have they been adopted to anything approaching the extent they are used in Great Britain. I could not justify the expenditure of the large sum of money which would be required for an extension to Aberdeen or Dundee, but as I explained to the deputation to which my hon. Friend refers, I hope soon to be able to provide more stability of telegraphic communication in other ways.

Mr. R. HARCOURT

As the figures which the right hon. Gentleman gave are admittedly wrong, is not the conclusion to be drawn different from that given by the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

No, the figures were a comparatively small factor in arriving at the conclusion.

Mr. PIRIE

Has it ever been the custom of the Postmaster-General or his predecessors in coming to a decision like this to balance local income against local expenditure?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I cannot say what occurred in the past. The figures I gave to the deputation were merely for the purpose of emphasising the minor argument that the expenditure involved in this case bore a very large proportion to the total gross revenue received for telegrams, yet still the expenditure might not be justified.

Mr. PIRIE

If the deputation had been one of Irish traders backed up by Irish Nationalist Members, would they have got the same answer?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is entirely a hypothetical question.

Mr. WILKIE

Is it not the case that the people in the North of Scotland bore a share of the cost of the telegraph cables which were laid further south, and, if so, why should others not bear a share of the cost of cables to the north?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Similarly the people in Dundee and Aberdeen also gain benefit from the cables laid from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow, because, if there are any interruptions between London and Edinburgh and Glasgow the cables save to some extent the people of Dundee and Aberdeen from the effect of these interruptions.

Mr. PIRIE

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any representations from the Secretary for Scotland on this matter—representations which ought to point out that Imperial Grants to Ireland amount to £3,300,000, whereas those to Scotland are only £1,400,000. Will he extend the same generosity to Scotland?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I do not think there are any underground cables in Ireland at all.

Mr. PIRIE

That has nothing to do with the question.

Mr. PRINGLE

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the wires are repaired in time to have the hon. Member's speech reported in Aberdeen to-morrow morning?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I should be sorry if the interruption should cause any such calamity as that.

Mr. R. HARCOURT

I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment at the first convenient opportunity.