HC Deb 03 February 1902 vol 102 cc195-7
MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that disappointment exists amongst the merchants and traders of Cork city and county owing to the fact that no substantial progress has been made in the matter of trunk telephone extension; is he aware that, when the General Post Office decided to assume the ownership of the trunk telephone lines, the National Telephone Company were on the point of establishing connection between Cork and Tralee viâ Mallow and Killarney, also between Cork and other towns in the west of the county, but, notwithstanding representations made on behalf of the trading community, nothing has yet been done in the way of telephone extension in the south of Ireland; and whether the Post Office Department are prepared to give at least the same facilities to the district as would have been given by the National Telephone Company if the trunk lines had been in their charge.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

May I, at the same time, ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that, when the Post Office Department decided to assume the ownership of the trunk telephone lines, the National Telephone Company had commenced a connecting line between Cork and Youghal and had established the line to Midleton (half way); and, whether, under this circumstances, the Post Office Department will consider the desirability of taking prompt steps to complete the connecting line between Cork and Youghal.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

No trunk telephone lines in Ireland except one between Dublin, Belfast, and Drogheda, were transferred by the National Telephone Company to the Post Office, nor is anything known of a proposal by the Company to connect Cork with Youghal, Mallow, Killarney, and Tralee. The trunk line between Dublin and Cork was constructed by the Post Office. It is no doubt the case that the National Telephone Company have connected Cork and Midleton, as the company have certain Exchange subscribers in Midleton, and both places are in the same local Exchange Area. The question of extending the trunk system to the places named has been carefully considered on several occasions, but there seems no probability that the revenue would cover the cost of working the lines. The Postmaster General would, however, provide any lines required, if a guarantee were given, either locally, or by the National Telephone Company, on the same terms as for extensions of the trunk wire system in other parts of the United Kingdom.

MR. FLYNN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the National Telephone Company were prepared, when the Government took them over, to extend telephone communication viâ Mallow?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I am not aware of that.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Do I understand that the hon. Gentleman can hold out no hope of the extension from Midleton to Youghal?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Not unless a guarantee is given which will secure the Post Office Revenue against loss.

MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN

Are these guarantees required in England?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Yes, under similiar circumstances they are required in all parts of the United Kingdom.