§ Mr. ROBINSONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a news message handed in at the House of Commons at 10.35 p.m. on 4th June, addressed to a Cardiff newspaper, was not completed until 12.46 a.m. on 5th June; and, seeing that instances such as this are of
352Wfrequent occurrence, will he make inquiry into the cause of the delay, and take steps to ensure greater promptness in the handling of such messages in future?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The 4th June was a Sunday, a day on which the telegraph office at the House of Commons is closed. The question probably refers to the night of the 4th-5th July, a time when there was great and unexpected pressure of telegraph traffic from London to Cardiff. One message alone, which is probably that to which the hon. Members refers,
contained fifty-six pages consisting of nearly 4,000 words, and was handed in without notice. I am afraid, however, that there was some mishap in the transmission of this message, which caused delay and trouble. The amount of press work telegraphed from London every night at the present time is very great, but I am satisfied that all possible efforts are made to dispose of the work rapidly.