§ 38. Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General whether, since the beam system of telegraphy has been in operation, he can state to what extent the commercial and press rates of the Eastern Exchange Cable Company have been reduced?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell-Thomson)Since the establishment of the first of the beam services the cable rates have been reduced to Australia from 2s. 6d. to 2s. a word; to South Africa from 2s. to 1s. 8d.; and to India from 1s. 8d. to 1s. 5d. Corresponding reductions have been made in the cable rates for the deferred services and certain of the letter telegram services. The cable rates for press telegrams to India have been reduced from 4d. to 3d. and to South Africa from 3½d. to 2½d.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Eastern Exchange Telegraph Company are very much more reliable than the beam system?