§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state the cause of the delay in the extension of the trunk telephone system from Belfast to Londonderry; has any progress as yet been made with the extension; and, if so, when may the citizens of Londonderry expect to be placed in communication with the trunk system throughout the kingdom.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) A considerable amount of work is involved in the extension of the telephone trunk system to Londonderry, but substantial progress has been made, and I hope to have the work completed about the end of April. I am informed by the National Telephone Company that they have
§ See (4) Debates, cxxix., 357.1455 recently concluded an agreement with the Corporation of Londonderry which will enable the company to convert their exchange system in Londonderry into a double wire system suitable for use with the trunk lines, and that the company hope to complete the work of reconstruction in about three months.