Sir WILLIAM BARTONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it now takes from twelve to twenty-five days for replies to wires between Manchester and Karachi or Bombay; whether he knows that merchants are of opinion that this is adding to the difficulties in resuming a normal export trade; and what he proposes to do in the matter?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHAs I explained in reply to questions asked on the 20th ultimo and the 3rd instant, the delay in telegraphic communication with India is due to the great increase of traffic, which unfortunately has to be concentrated on a very limited number of cables, owing to the stoppage of the auxiliary routes through Russia and Germany which were in existence before the War, and the interruption of certain of the submarine lines. The increase is largely in Government messages, and I am constantly urging the Departments concerned to do their utmost to curtail this traffic. An auxiliary wireless service has just been established by means of existing Government stations, and meanwhile every effort is being made to repair the interrupted cables.