§ MR. MCGOVERN (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, in view of the fact that a number of the sub-post offices in Ireland have been supplied with telephones for the purpose of connecting them for telegraphic purposes with the head or district post offices, and that representations have been made to the postal authorities that it would be of benefit to the public, especially to the commercial classes, if they were allowed to use these telephones on the payment of a small charge, and seeing that it would not involve the De- 804 partment in any serious outlay, he will direct a trial of the experiment to be made.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThis proposal was brought to my notice last autumn by the hon. Member for West Islington,† and I am endeavouring to find means to adopt it. An experiment on these lines is already being made in one case, and if the hon. Member will send me in writing the names of any offices he has specially in view I shall be happy to see what can be done.