Dr. WATTSasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the mistakes which frequently occur from the practice of telephoning the contents of telegrams and forwarding them by the next morning's post, instead of delivering them when received; and will he give instructions that all telegrams must be forwarded by messenger from the receiving office at the earliest possible moment?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am not aware that mistakes in the delivery of telegrams by telephone are frequent. The acceptance of this mode of delivery is optional on the part of the addressee, and I see no sufficient reason for modifying the present practice. The system has been in force for many years and renders it practicable to deliver promptly many messages which would otherwise suffer inevitable delay. A confirmatory copy is sent in each case by post.