§ 6. Mr. Errollasked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement to the House on his recent trip with the cable laying ship "Monarch."
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI am grateful for an opportunity to mention this little known Post Office service. His Majesty's Telegraph Ship "Monarch" was first commissioned last year. She is the largest of the Post Office fleet of four cable ships; indeed, the largest cable ship in the world, equipped for laying cables and maintaining them in all waters. The laying by "Monarch" of the new Anglo-Dutch No. 6 cable offered a unique opportunity of witnessing at first-hand the work and working conditions on a cable ship. The cable itself is of very modern design, and will provide 84 telephone circuits from this country to Holland, and in a year or two, to all the Scandinavian countries. "Monarch" is the only ship capable of laying the 80 odd miles in one piece.
In spite of a considerable storm, the laying of the cable was completed successfully in five days. Great credit is, I think, Sir, due to the Captain and ship's company, who combined skilful seamanship and sound technical training so as to lay an unfamiliar type of cable, less easy to handle than the norm, in spite of adverse 982 weather. Great credit is also due to the skill and enterprise of the British firm—Messrs. Submarine Cables Ltd.—who designed and produced the cable itself—an advanced piece of intricate scientific craftsmanship; I am glad to say that they were represented on board "Monarch." Representatives of the Dutch and Danish administrations where there too, and expressed great satisfaction at the success of the operation.