§ 23. Mr. FELLasked the Postmaster-General if the ordinary public charge for telegrams was made by the Post Office for each of the 90,000 telegrams specially dispatched on the eve of the London County Council election; and, if not, what sum was charged for each telegram and on what principle was the charge made?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and the second part therefore does not arise.
§ 26. Major GASTRELLasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain newspapers have availed themselves of the cheap rate for the transmission of many thousands of Press telegrams for political purposes at recent London County Council elections; whether he will state the number of telegrams sent at the 685 nominal charge at such election abusing the Municipal Reform party and urging the electors to vote for Progressives; and whether, if such telegrams are transmitted at a loss to the State, he will take steps to prevent a similar abuse of Press privileges in the future?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The telegrams to which he is doubtless referring were not sent at Press rates, since they were not Press telegrams, but were sent at the ordinary rates for public telegrams. Their dispatch did not involve a loss, but, on the contrary, brought a considerable profit to the public purse.
§ Mr. TOUCHEMay I ask if the same privilege will be available for every Parliamentary candidate without the intervention of a newspaper?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELUnquestionably.
§ Mr. CASSELMay I ask whether these telegrams in London were really transmitted over the wires, or whether they were transmitted by pneumatic tubes and messengers?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe Post Office transmitted them in the cheapest way available.