§ Mr. H. Usborneasked the Assistant Postmaster-General why instances of considerable delay have recently occurred in the transmission of telegrams; and whether steps can be taken to speed up this service.
§ Mr. BurkeThe telegraph service is slower than before the war because it has not been possible to increase staff to keep pace with the increase in traffic—30 per cent. above the prewar level. By recruiting and training additional operators and by means of technical developments a steady improvement in the transmission time of telegrams has been maintained since September last and efforts to effect further improvements will continue. I shall be pleased to investigate the cases to which my hon. Friend refers if he will let me have the particulars.