A very satisfactory debate on the condition of the Government
Telegraphs came off on Friday week. Mr. Goldsmid stated the case against the Post Office with great clearness, and demanded an inquiry ; and Mr. Goschen supported the demand, de- nouncing the enormous expenditure which had been incurred, both in the purchase of the lines and their management. Lord John Manners made a weak defence for the capital expenditure, his argument being really that the original purchasers, the Tory Cabinet of 1868, foresaw nothing, but stated that existing ex- penditure could and would be out down. He added that the estimated revenue of the year had been fully made up, £1,250,000 having been received ; that the income and expenditure of both the Post Office and the Telegraphs would show most satisfactorily in the Budget; and that within five or six years the most sanguine expectations that reasonable men could have formed would be com- pletely realised. The receipts of the Telegraph department " were developing enormously week by week and month by month," while the number of miles of wire had increased from 48,000 in 1870 to 110,000 in 1875, and the number of offices open from 2,488 to 5,600. Considering the immense advantage to the public, if the Telegraphs pay 10 per cent. in 1880 the purchase will have been amply justified.
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