§ 30. Mr. LYONSasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the inconvenience arising from the fact that all wireless messages sent to England from India and Kenya have to be paid for on a gold franc basis, he will direct that all inter-Imperial wireless messages transmitted by the Imperial and International Communications, Limited, shall in future be assessed and paid for on a basis of sterling or the currency of the country of origin?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)The arrangements for the assessment and collection of charges for telegrams handed in at telegraph offices in India and Kenya for transmission overseas are under the control of the Administrations of those countries, and I have no power to intervene in the matter as my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Mr. LYONSWill the hon. Gentleman impress upon the Governments concerned the vital importance to-day of maintaining the superiority of sterling and allowing no other currency to compete with it in the manner that I have indicated?
§ Sir E. BENNETTIf the hon. Gentleman wishes to pursue the question, he had better address questions to the Secretary of State for India and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the hon. Gentleman inform the House where his chief is to-day?