The Sixpenny Telegraphs Bill passed through Committee on Thursday, after
a discussion of Lord John Manners's amendment for free addresses, which was rejected by a majority of 46 (108 to 62). Mr. Shaw-Lefevre stated that he was willing to adopt the rate of a halfpenny a word, including addresses ; that he had com- pared the expense of 157 telegrams sent by working-men on his plan with the expense on Lord John Manners's plan, and that the result was as follows :—Under his tariff, 71 of these tele- grams could be sent for 6d., and the average cost was only 70. On Lord John Manners's plan only four out of the 157 could be sent for 6d., while the average charge for each would be 9d. instead of 7-id. This statement convinced the House of Commons; and the Postmaster-General withdrawing all further opposition, the Telegraphs Bill passed through Committee.
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