HC Deb 01 December 1925 vol 188 cc2039-40
70. Colonel DAY

asked the Postmaster-General the reason why the switchboards required by the General Post Office, London, were ordered from Germany; and will he state the amount of such foreign tender and the amount of British tenders from British manufacturers?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

The hon. Member has apparently been misled by a false report, which I publicly refuted nearly two months ago. The Post Office has not ordered switchboards from Germany, nor obtained a tender for them from that or any other foreign country; and the rest of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Colonel DAY

Is it not the fact that switches were delivered at the Post Office with the eases stamped on "From Germany"?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Oh, yes. I have already stated in public that what arrived at the General Post Office was one set of special high-speed telegraphic apparatus from Germany, at a cost of something like £2,000, and that it was for experimental purposes.