§ Mr. SUGDENasked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to 916W lessen the period of transmission of messages between China, Japan, and this country, which frequently now requires, from ten to fourteen days; and if he can supply from the records what progress in this Department has been made since 1913, because of vital war necessities and lessons, and to state his intentions for early remedy of the present delay obtaining?
§ Mr. PEASEAs previously explained, the delay is due to interruption of some of the principal lines of communication, coupled with the great increase of traffic. Certain important cables have been repaired within the last few days, and cable ships are now working on the other interrupted cables, but are being hindered by bad weather. The increase of traffic is largely due to the number and length of Government massages, and measures have been taken to curtail these messages as, far as possible. I do not quite understand the second part of the question, but if it relates to the laying of new cables for the purposes of the general telegraph service, the answer is that it has not been possible to do much in this direction during the War; but that steps are now being taken to provide additional lines as quickly as possible.