§ 32. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Postmaster-General when he expects to have the trunk telephone system installed in Longford; whether he is cognisant of the fact that this installation was promised by the late Mr. Hanbury when Postmaster- General in this House; whether all the necessary formalities have been concluded and the people who signed guarantees were informed they would have the telephone by Christmas; and will he now 20 definitely state when he hopes to have the system installed?
§ Captain NORTONI am not aware that any definite promise has been made as regards the date of opening of the Longford Exchange. Owing to the pressing nature of other telephone work in Ireland, particularly the provision of the new Dublin-Mullingar trunk lines, on which the utility of the Longford service largely depends, I am sorry I cannot at present furnish an approximate date for the completion of the work.
§ Captain NORTONI am glad to say that although occasional difficulties are still experienced, partly in consequence of unfavourable weather, the trunk circuit between Dublin and Wexford has been working more satisfactorily of late.