HC Deb 24 May 1911 vol 26 cc264-5
Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the importance to agricultural co-operative societies, in order effectively to bulk their members' orders, of being in constant communication with them on their farms as well as with the merchants and producers of seeds, fertilisers, feeding-stuffs, and other raw materials of agricultural industry, he will permit these societies to use the telephone at the reduced annual charge of £3 at their village stores or depots?

Mr. KING

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the extension of the new telephone facilities, especially that by which six farmers may subscribe together for telephone purposes at £3 each, to country shopkeepers, tradesmen, such as builders and blacksmiths, and others, such as inn-keepers and carriage proprietors, whose businesses are closely connected with country life and industry?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

There will be no objection to accepting as subscribers for farmers' telephones other persons connected with rural industries who live at considerable distances from a telephone exchange. In general, however, traders of various classes who live in the immediate vicinity of telephone exchanges would not find that it suited the conditions of their business to share a line with a number of other subscribers, and the ordinary exchange lines are better suited for their purposes. The same considerations apply to lines rented by co-operative societies.

Captain FABER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could include country doctors in the new telephone facilities?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

If they thought it convenient, and if they were able to fulfil the requirements attached to these cheap telephones, as at present advised I see no objection to their being included.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that without the provision of a cheap telephone at these small agricultural co-operative stores the value of the telephones to the small holders will be but small?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Yes, but, whether the co-operative society is a subscriber to the ordinary telephone system, or whether it has a telephone on the party line system, it will equally be in communication with all the other subscribers on the Telephone Exchange, whether they are ordinary subscribers or subscribers on the party line system.

Mr. KING

May the detailed provisions of this telephone system be issued as soon as possible, so that they may be fairly and fully considered?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

They are now available, and if the hon. Member or his friends apply, they can be furnished with a copy.