§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Postmaster-General is he is aware that the cable to Jersey is broken; if, and when, he proposes to repair it or to lay a new one, or to provide full wireless communication; if in the meantime he will approach the French Government with a view of improvement in the service through France where the average time taken for a telegram passing through is 12 hours; and if he can obtain a rebate on the 2½d. per word now charged while our cable is not in working order?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe cable to Jersey will be repaired as soon as a cable ship can be spared to undertake the work. Temporary wireless communication is being provided in the meantime, and it is hoped that when the service is stabilised there will be no undue delay in the interchange of telegraph communications. The telegraph services in Northern France were disorganised by the recent gales, and the transmission of messages via France to Jersey was undertaken by the French authorities as a, matter of courtesy and at great inconvenience. I am afraid I cannot ask them to do anything further, or to forgo the transit charges to which they are entitled under international regulations.