§ 69. Mr. HURDasked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to encourage the use of the Imperial cable by granting lower rates for Press and general messages despatched during the slack hours of the day, and so lessen the peak load of the cables?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYSpecially low rates are already given on the "Imperial" cable service for non-urgent traffic, which can be held over until the slack hours of the day. The "Imperial" is the only cable route on which the following reduced rate services are provided: A deferred Press service to Canada at 2½d. a word, and to Australia and New Zealand at 4½d.; a deferred service for general traffic to Canada at 4½d. a word, which is 1½d. less than the rate by other cable routes; a week-end service to Australia and New Zealand at quarter rates. A large amount of traffic is sent by these cheap rate services. It is held over whenever necessary in favour of full-rate traffic, which latter is given a rapid service, even at the busiest hours of the day.
§ Mr. HURDIs it not a fact that no lower rates whatever are given to one Dominion to which the matter is of the greatest importance, namely, Canada, and that the same rate is given by the "Imperial" cable as by the other cables?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have answered the question which my hon. Friend put to me, as to the granting of special rates for a special class of service, and I have shown that these special rates are in fact granted and used.
§ Mr. HURDWas not His Majesty's Government a party to a unanimous resolution at the Imperial Conference calling for far lower rates than these which the right hon. Gentleman now announces?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThere are demands from all quarters for far lower rates, but I have to have regard to the solvency of the service.