§ Mr. CRAWSHAY- WILLIAMSasked whether the registration of calls on the telephone exchanges is absolutely automatic, or whether such calls are recorded by the operators; and what guarantee subscribers have as to the correctness of the number of calls registered?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn the large post office exchanges, where the calls are registered by means of meters connected with the subscribers' lines on central battery switch boards, no call can be registered on any line unless it is connected with another line. The registration is not entirely automatic, as it does not take place unless the operator depresses a key which controls the meter. The objection to an entirely automatic register is that it would not distinguish between calls which result in effective conversations and those which are ineffective and should therefore not be charged for. Meters of the same form as those in use by the Post Office are in general use in all the large exchanges in the United States, and the results are considered satisfactory. I am obtaining samples of a device which will register all calls automatically, but will allow the cancellation of ineffective calls, the subscriber being informed of the cancellation at the same time, and if this apparatus proves satisfactory it may be possible to allow 484 subscribers the option of having it fixed on their lines at the small extra cost involved by its use.
§ Mr. CRAWSHAY-WILLIAMSHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a recently published statement to the effect that telephone operators are reported to be in the habit of taking revenge on subscribers by charging them for fictitious calls?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI saw the newspaper article in question in which this was asserted. I have no reason to believe it is true. I will, however, make-inquiry.