§ 59. Mr. LYNNasked, the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of telegrams transmitted to the Post Office for Government Departments in January, February, and March, 1914, 1918, and 1919, respectively; will he say whether the great 586 delay being suffered by public and Press telegrams is due to the excessive total of such Government telegrams; and will he take effective measures materially to reduce the latter?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe numbers of Government telegrams during the months referred to are:
| 1914 | 1918 | 1919 | |
| January | 43,635 | 848,641 | 987,807 |
| February | 44,622 | 798,045 | 875,000 |
| March | 57,549 | 977,913 | 825,000 |
§ The figures for February and March 1919, are estimates, as actual figures are not yet available. The delay incurred by telegraph traffic is due partly to the number of Government telegrams, and partly to the number of skilled telegraphists serving with the Colours who were not demobilised; but the position is now somewhat better as the number of Government telegrams is being reduced, and more telegraphists have returned to duty. I have recently again urged Government Departments to restrict official telegrams within the narrowest possible limits.
§ Colonel YATECan the right hon. Gentleman say which Department is the worst?
§ Mr. LYNNIs my right hon. Friend aware that Government Departments are in the habit of sending messages by telegram which could be sent by messenger in five minutes?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI could not say exactly as to the number of minutes, but I am afraid some of them are guilty of such practices.
§ Captain REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the main telegraph wire from London to Dublin is an overhead one along the Welsh coast, and that it has been constantly blown down, and will he see that there is an underground wire put up instead?
§ Sir H. CRAIKWould it not be possible to revert to the custom of the old days that telegrams in public offices were not permitted except with the sanction of some higher officer of the Department?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHWith regard to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Waterford (Captain Redmond), I am afraid that like many others that wire has been blown down two or three times. The question of whether the line should be put underground is under considera- 587 tion. With regard to the question of my hon. Friend (Sir H. Craik), the telegrams are too numerous to make it practicable for the head of the Department to sanction each one of them.
§ Sir H. CRAIKWas it not the constant habit of public offices before the War to require such sanction?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am afraid I cannot answer that.