§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, sufficient support to warrant the introduction of the trunk telephone scheme being now forthcoming, he will say what is the cause of the delay in having communication established between Ballymena and Londonderry, including branches to Limavady, Coleraine, and Portrush; and when the subscribers in these towns may expect to be connected with Belfast.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) Applications for a telephone service have been received from several other towns in the North of Ireland besides those mentioned by the hon. Member, and it has been necessary to obtain further estimates in order that the scheme now under consideration may be made as comprehensive as the circumstances will justify. I hope, however, very shortly to be able to announce the result and to have the work put in hand where the requisite support is forthcoming.