§ MR. DWYER GRAY (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)asked the Postmaster General, Whether he has refused to several Telephone Companies permission to open public call offices at Railway stations; whether his attention has been drawn to the declarations made in the House by his predecessor, the late Mr. Fawcett, on the 22nd May 1884, that—
Nothing was further from his desire than to do anything that was unfair to, or severe upon, the Telephone Companies, or anything that was likely to strangle them. He was anxious that the public should obtain a supply of telephone communication, either through private enterprise or through the Post Office, according to which could supply it to the public most efficiently and on the most reasonable terms,and that—in safeguarding the public revenue he had been, and should continue to be, most scrupulously careful not to throw any unnecessary impediment in the way of the development of private enterprise;and, whether it is the fact that the Post Office Department neither open telephone call offices themselves at Railway stations, over the lines of which they possess exclusive wayleaves, nor will permit the Companies to do so, although the latter are willing to pay for the privilege?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)I have to state that I find the attention of the Department was called, in April last, to a statement of the Managing Director of the United Telephone Company, that 1074 the Company had made arrangements with certain Railway Companies to open telephone exchanges at all their stations. Thereupon, a letter was addressed to the United Telephone Company, pointing out that such arrangements could not be carried out without the special consent of the Postmaster General, the right of transacting telegraph business at the stations in question having been purchased by the State. The Company replied that their Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Managing Director, would come to the Post Office on an early date to discuss the matter. They have not yet done so; and, meanwhile, the Department has not allowed any call office to be established at railway stations. I have to add that if these gentlemen lay their views before the Post Office they will be carefully considered.
§ MR. DWYER GRAYasked, if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that application had been made for permission to open a call office at Bray, near Dublin, and that it was peremptorily refused?
§ MR. RAIKESsaid, that matter had been brought under his notice, and he could only say that the application was made by a Company subsidiary to this United Telephone Company, and therefore it could not be entertained, at all events in the absence of any movement of the United Telephone Company in the matter.
§ MR. DWYER GRAYasked, if he understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that if the views of the United Telephone Company were brought before him in the way suggested they would be considered?
§ MR. RAIKESCertainly.