§ MR. GRAYasked the Postmaster General, Whether the Post Office claim the right to prohibit owners, public or private, permitting wires, no matter by whom owned, or for what purpose, telephonic or otherwise, used, being run over their individual properties; and, if so, under what Act of Parliament the Department claims that right?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, the Post Office authorities do not object to owners of land erecting poles or wires for telegraphic (including telephonic) purposes thereon, so long as the telegraph or telephone is used exclusively for the purposes of the owner. But owners of land would be prevented by the provisions of the General Telegraphic Acts from allowing poles or wires to be erected for the purpose of carrying messages for persons other than the owners for payment, as aiding in the carrying of messages for the public is an infringement of the rights of the Post Office. It must be also understood that the owners of houses forming part of a street or adjoining a public roadway cannot, by virtue of such ownership, confer power on anyone to erect poles 1078 on or carry wires along or over such street or roadway.