§ CAPTAIN BAGOT (Westmoreland, Kendal)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if there is any clause in the proposed agreement between the Post Office and the National Telephone Company, which will permit that company to put telephone wires or tubes under the streets within the County Council area in Loudon, or under the streets of any other town; or if there is any clause by which the Post Office agrees to lay telephone tubes or wires, with the view of afterwards renting the use of the same to the National Telephone Company for telephone purposes; and whether either could be done without the consent of the County Council or Municipal Authority?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY, Nottingham, E.)I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a question on the same subject on the 31st ultimo. The powers to place telephone wires or tubes underground, either in London or other towns, are regulated by Statute, and are in all cases subject to the consent of the Local Authorities with an appeal in certain cases to a Police or Stipendiary Magistrate or County Court Judge, and a further appeal to the Railway Commissioners.