Mr. ALFRED DAVIESasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, as the result of the permission which has been given to the Marconi Company to instal a land line and wireless service between London and Paris, nearly 1,000 telegrams per day are being dealt with by the experimental route; that despite an increase in the volume of traffic handled by the Government cables from the Stock Exchange a very heavy net decrease of commercial work has been experienced, whilst the proportion of triple rate to ordinary rate work under the Post Office is 15 per cent., as compared with 70 per cent. in the case of the Marconi Company; that, as a result of the policy pursued by the Marconi Company of allotting a proportion of their shares to the Government, concerned, important concessions have been secured in Austria and Spain, so that the Government cable service is being subjected to a very dangerous attack, with the consent of the British Post Office authorities; and whether, having regard to the importance of maintaining the cable services, which are owned and controlled by the British Government, he will reconsider his decision to grant the Marconi Company the power to continue and extend this service.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware that a considerable number of telegrams are being transmitted by the Marconi Company's wireless service between London and Paris, and that there has recently been a small decrease in the cable traffic; but, although the Marconi service has no doubt withdrawn some traffic from the cables, the decrease is mainly attributable to trade depression, and I do not think it necessary to withdraw the permission accorded to the Marconi Company.