§ 63. Mr. KINLEYasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any protests against overhead telegraph and telephone poles; and whether he proposes to deal with the cause of those protests?
§ 64. Sir ROBERT GOWERasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain municipal corporations, including that of Chatham, Kent, have passed resolutions that representations be made to His Majesty's Government urging that consideration be given to the powers at present conferred on him under the Telegraph Acts for the erection of overhead telegraphic and telephonic lines being amended, in order to provide that, where a local authority objects to the erection of poles in any road under its control on the grounds that the erection of such poles would create a nuisance or destroy the amenities of the neighbour- 970 hood, the lines be placed underground; and whether he has any statement to make upon the matter?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHA number of local authorities have made representations on the lines referred to by the hon. Members. Underground cables are laid to the fullest possible extent consistent with economy, but a proportion of overhead wires is essential to the widespread development of the telephone service unless altogether prohibitive expenditure is to be incurred. I should add that every endeavour is made to meet the views of local authorities as to the precise position of the poles for such lines.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that representations are often made against these lines going over houses; is he also aware that, if anything happens to the lines, the householders are held responsible, and will he take such steps to see, in such cases, that the lines are placed elsewhere?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI do not think a householder in the case mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member would be held responsible unless he had some dangerous, inflammable substance in his house, and for this he would have to accept responsibility if he caused damage to his next-door neighbour.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case of a garage one must have inflammable substances?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI am not aware that it is necessary to have inflammable subtances in such a way as to bring one within the reach of the law.
§ Mr. KINLEYIt is the definite policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to maintain permanently these overhead wires?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI would remind the hon. Member that seven-eighths of the wires are already underground, and that that policy is being rapidly extended.