§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he would consider the advisability of taking steps to secure that the press rates to the East, South Africa, and Australasia be based on a scale for distances, as are the ordinary rates of 2s., 2s. 6d., and[...] 377W respectively, whereby, with a 9d. press rate for Australasia, the rate to South Africa would be 7½d. per word, and to the East 6d. per word?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is not the general practice to base telegraphic rates on a scale for distances, as many other matters have to be taken into consideration; and I do not at present see my way to take action on the lines suggested by the hon. Member for securing reductions in the charges for press telegrams to South Africa and the East.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, whereas the press rate to the Sraits Settlements is 9d. per word, to Ceylon it is 9½d. per word, and that India continues to charge a terminal rate of 1½d. per word on Ceylon press messages against a transit fee of only 07 centime per word on Straits Settlements press messages; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Press rates to the Straits Settlements and Ceylon are as stated in the question. India charges a transit rate of 10½ centimes, or 1d. per word on Ceylon messages, and not a terminal rate of l½d. as stated. Ceylon continues to charge, as it did before the reduction of rate in 1909, 5 centimes, or ½d. per word as its terminal rate, and this addition to the Press rate to India brings the total charge up to 9½d. per word for Ceylon. India charges a transit rate of 7 centimes a word on Press messages for the Straits Settlements, this amount being its decreased proportion of the through rate arrived at when the Telegraph Administrations concerned reduced the Press rate from 1s. 4d. to 9d. No action is proposed at present.