§ 42. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delay in mails and telegrams to the services in the East, including one of a delay of 28 days to deliver a telegram from the United Kingdom to Batavia and 14 days for one from Poona, evidence and other details of which have been sent to him; and what further steps he is taking as a result of this evidence.
§ Mr. BurkeAs regards letters, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon Members for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) and Uxbridge (Flight-Lieutenant Beswick) on 22nd January. As regards telegrams, my reply to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 6th February about the recent delay to greetings telegrams to the Services in Ceylon applies equally to other places in the East. Apart from this, I am not aware of any general delays in the telegraph service, but if further particulars can be provided I shall "be glad to ask Cable and Wireless Ltd. to make 520 detailed inquiry. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the answers to which I have referred.
§ Mr. FreemanIs my hon. Friend aware that I have given him two instances of considerable delay? Could not inquiries be made into them?
§ Mr. BurkeNo, Sir. My hon. Friend has sent me a letter which contains nothing more of the details of these cases than the Question. It does not contain the name of the addressee or the date or place of origin. It simply says "A telegram from the United Kingdom."
§ Mr. FreemanIf I give my hon. Friend information will he look into those cases?