§ MR. BOUSFIELD () Hackney, N.To ask the Postmaster General if his attention has been called to the proceedings at a meeting of the London Country Council on Tuesday last, when the Chairman of the Establishments Committee stated that the National Telephone Company had quoted a charge of £327 for certain work for which the Post Office charge was £430; and whether, in view of these statements, he will say whether the Post Office is able to afford in London as cheap a service as the National Telephone Company.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Yes, Sir, and I think the Post Office has some right to complain of the statement to which the hon. Member refers, as I had Previously explained in a letter to the Council's Chief Engineer how the apparent discrepancy between the quotations of the Company and the Post Office arose. The Commany already provide for the Council a considerable number of exchange lines and private wires, and on going into the matter they found that they could afford to make some reduction in the rentals of the latter. Their total charge for the whole of the service, including the new lines now required, but giving credit for the reduction on existing lines as above described, worked out at a net increase of £327 on the charge for the old service. The Post Office was asked for a quotation for the new services only, and the charge for those services was precisely the same as that made by the Company.