HC Deb 11 November 1902 vol 114 cc602-3
MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

I wish to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to a secret agreement prepared by the National Telephone Company with regard to the purchase of the municipal telephone system of Tunbridge Wells, which has been approved by the Town Clerk without the consent or knowledge of the Council of Tunbridge Wells or of the ratepayers, and which may be ratified tomorrow with the Postmaster General's consent; and whether, in view of the extraordinary circumstances under winch the agreement was procured, he will undertake to notify to the Council that he will withhold his consent to the proposed transfer.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)

No application has yet been made to me by the Corporation of Tunbridge Wells on this subject. Until such an application is made, and until I am in possession of the Council's reasons for making it, I do not propose to express .any opinion on the subject.

MR. LOUGH

I wish now to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call the attention of the House to the subject as a definite matter of urgent public importance, seeing that the right hon. Gentleman declines to say that he will withhold his consent.

MR. SPEAKER

I do not think I can accept the Motion. There appears to be at present a dispute between the Town Council and the Town Clerk, about a contract with the Company, and it is not a matter of public administration at all. As soon as the application is brought before the Post Office they will have to inquire into these matters. At present the question is only as I have described it.

MR. LOUGH

May I point out with very great respect that this is a very urgent matter. It is entirely unprecedented in the history of municipalities in this country. The transfer will be completed tomorrow if no action is taken.

MR. SPEAKER

There has been nothing completed or done as far as any public department is concerned. An arrangement, the hon. Member says, has been made between a Company and a Corporation without the authority of the Corporation. The Town Clerk has no authority to bind the Corporation.

MR. LOUGH

There are other steps to be taken.

MR. SPEAKER

I cannot accept the Motion for Adjournment.