§ MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the inefficient service of the Telephone Company in London and Westminister, and of its inability to supply persons with telephones; and whether he will take immediate steps to place the telephone service of London, which is now almost essential to modern business requirements, on a satisfactory basis?
HANBURYThe attention of the Postmaster General has not recently been called to any inefficiency in the telephone service in London and Westminster, and he has no knowledge of the inability of the Telephone Company to supply persons with telephones. He understands that the Company are making every effort to place the service on a satisfactory basis, and that the work of reconstructing the system on the metallic circuit principle is now nearly completed. The Company state that they hope to be able to make arrangements for largely putting the lines underground, and that they will then be enabled to effect still further improvements.
§ MR. BARTLEYgave notice that on the Post Office Estimates he should draw attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the telephone service.