§ 84. Mr. CHORLTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the chamber of commerce of Trinidad has protested to the Government of the Colony against their proposal to lease to Cables and Wireless, Limited, for a term of years the Government wireless system, and the contemplated closing by that company of the North Post wireless station; whether the commercial community in Trinidad was consulted before these proposals were formulated; and whether, seeing that £1,000,000 is being spent on the construction of a new harbour at Port of Spain, he will endeavour to secure that wireless telegraphic facilities between Trinidad and the outside world and shipping shall be increased rather than diminished?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. J. H. Thomas)An agreement for the lease to Messrs. Cable and Wireless, Limited, of the wireless telegraph station at Port of Spain is now under consideration by the Trinidad Government, and I am awaiting a despatch from the Governor of the Colony on the subject. In the meantime I am not in a position to say what representations have been made to the Trinidad Government or what interests 563 in the Colony have been consulted, but I will certainly endeavour to see that no diminution takes place in the Colony's facilities for telegraphic communication with the outside world and with shipping.