§ 71. Sir M. DOCKRELLasked the Post master-General if he is aware that before installing a special wire between the Dublin Stock Exchange and London a money guarantee was required that the line would pay its way; is he aware that no call has ever had to be made in respect of the guarantee, and will he, having regard to this fact and to the large transactions in Government and other stocks which are passing between Dublin and London, restore this special wire, which during many years proved itself to be a paying proposition?
§ Mr. PEASEIn 1884 an agreement was made between the Postmaster-General and the Dublin Stock Exchange to continue in force for one year only under which the Postmaster-General undertook to set aside a special wire between the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges for the use of those exchanges, while the committee of the Dublin Stock Exchange undertook that if the revenue from the telegrams handed in there should fall short of £1,200, they would make it up to that amount. At the end of the year the wire was continued without a further guarantee being required, but the Postmaster-General reserved to himself the right to withdraw it at any time.
It is not expected that the telegrams to be handed in at the Dublin Stock Exchange would produce a gross annual revenue of £1,200, but I shall be glad again to reserve a wire for the use of the Dublin Stock Exchange as soon as I can do so without prejudicing the interests of the general public in Dublin.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLHas the hon. Gentleman any idea as to when that will be?