§ MR. BANBURY (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will press forward the work of laying the telephone wires which has now been going on for nearly a year; and also give instructions that all pipes and materials shall be unloaded at night, as at present the streets are nearly impassable, and when unloading is going on are quite impassable.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Postmaster General asks me to assure my hon. friend that everything is being done to press forward the work of laying the telephone wires in London, and that most of the main lines have already been completed. He understood that the unloading of pipes and materials was being done early in the morning, but he will make further inquiry in view of my hon. friend's question.
§ MR. BARTLEYWhen will the system be in working order?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI think, if my memory serves me right, towards the end of the present year.