§ MR. J. K. CROSSasked the Postmaster General, Whether he has yet come to any decision as to the applications which have been made by various Companies for licences to establish and work telephonic exchanges?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to the Question of my hon. Friend, I have to state that I have received numerous applications to grant telephone licences, not only in places where telephone exchanges have been established by private Companies, but also where they have been established by the Post Office. Deputations have waited upon me, representing the United Telephone Company and other Companies connected with it, strongly urging that, in the interest of the public, it was desirable that private Companies should have an opportunity of competing against the Post Office in 712 those places where telephone exchange business has hitherto been conducted by the Post Office alone. I have had similar applications to allow telephone exchange business to be established in places where the United Telephone Company or one of its branches has an exchange. After giving the matter very careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be in the interest of the public to create a monopoly in relation to the supply of telephonic communication. I am, there- fore, prepared to favourably entertain the proposals that may be made to me by responsible persons to grant new telephone licences under conditions which may be regarded as giving adequate protection to the public and the Department. In case it may be supposed that inconvenience may arise from the multiplication of wives, I may remark that the licence of the Postmaster General to establish a telephone exchange confers no special power whatever to erect poles and wires on, or to place wires under, any highway or private property. The persons to whom a licence may be given will have to make their own arrangements with the local authorities, and with any persons whose property may be affected. It may be well to add that the licence of the Postmaster General confers no authority to carry on telephone business with any instrument the use of which would be an infringement of any patent.