§ MR. HORNIMAN (Chelsea)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that much loss of trade and general inconvenience is being occasioned by the traffic being blocked at St. George's Place and Knightsbridge owing to the height of the season being chosen for the laying of telephone wires or other work of the Department along one of the two main arteries leading west; for what reason was the month of May chosen, how many hours per diem are the men working, and can he arrange to expedite the completion of the same by night shifts; and whether he will arrange that in future such work be done at a time of year less likely to cause inconvenience and loss of business to tradesmen in crowded thoroughfares.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) All possible steps were taken to minimise the inconvenience to which the hon. Member calls attention. Work was carried on night and day and considerable portions of the roadway were left undisturbed, the ground being tunnelled. Every effort is made to avoid doing work of this kind in the London season, but in the present instance postponement of the work was not possible.