§ MR. DEASY (for Mr. PARNELL)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he has refused to the Telephone Company of Ireland a licence for an Exchange at Cork, on the same terms as that granted for Dublin; and, whether he has insisted upon a condition which he has been assured by the Company it is absolutely out of their power to accept, viz., that they should sell to the Postmaster General instruments which they do not themselves own, and of which they have only the user?
§ MR. FAWCETTI have explained, in reply to a similar Question, that about two years ago it was decided, under certain conditions, to give telephone licences to all applicants. These conditions it was thought necessary to impose in the public interest; and the particular condition to which the hon. Member refers is one that has been inserted in all telephone licences which have been granted since the period mentioned.
§ MR. GRAYasked the Postmaster General, If he could state, for the information of the House, the number of Telephones (being patents the property of the United Telephone Company) in use by the Post Office for Exchange purposes in each of the years since the Department undertook Exchange business; the total number of such instruments acquired by the Post Office, whether in use for any purpose, in store, or otherwise; the further number of such instruments which the Department has the right to call upon the Company, under agreement, to supply to it; and, the number of such instruments sold by the Department, if any, with the price and conditions, if any, of sale?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to the hon. Member, but without going into the question of patents, I have to state that 177 telephones were in use by the Post Office for exchange purposes on the 31st of March, 1882; 598 on the same date in 1883; and 954 on the same date in the present year. The total number of such instruments acquired by the Post Office is 5,251, and the Department has the right, under agreement, to call upon the United Telephone Company to supply about 15,000 more. Three hundred and thirty-two telephones have been sold by the Department, and the aggregate price received for them is £3,315. No conditions were imposed on the purchasers.