Captain MACDONALDasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the telegraph cable between Alderney and Guernsey has been now broken for about six weeks; whether there is any reason why it has not hitherto been repaired; and whether, seeing that the cable breaks nearly every winter, with the result that communication between the islands and the mainland is becoming increasingly difficult, he will have a thorough investigation made into the present telegraphic system?
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§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe telegraph cable between Alderney and Guernsey was reported faulty on the 4th of April and was repaired on the 7th instant. The repair could not be effected earlier because a cable ship was not available. There have been seven interruptions of this cable during the past 14 years. The traffic is, I fear, too small to warrant the expense of providing a second cable or a wireless installation.