HC Deb 11 March 1912 vol 35 cc800-2
Mr. GRANT

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to say what arrangements he has made to carry out the promise of the Government to give special facilities to farmers for a cheap telephone service?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I have received the authority of the Treasury for a revised scheme of telephone party lines in rural districts. Such lines may now be provided for not less than three subscribers, and when an average of two or more subscribers to the mile of route can be obtained. The line within a radius of half-a-mile from the exchange will not be taken into account in calculating this proportion. With three subscribers to the mile the charge will be £3 a year, with unlimited service to the exchange and with two subscribers to the mile, £3 10s. a year. Steps are being taken to bring the revised terms under the notice of persons interested in applications for rural telephone service which could not be satisfied under the former conditions.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is it still inevitable that farmers using the telephone will hear each other's trade messages?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The system is to have a party line service, and where that is so messages can be overheard. If farmers want individual lines they must, of course, pay the ordinary fees for them.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Does the right hon. Gentleman imagine that farmers ever will use these telephones for trade purposes when they can hear what each other are saying?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I can inform the hon. Member that in the United States there are many tens of thousands of these lines used under these conditions by farmers.

Mr. SANDERS

Are the rates it is proposed to charge under the revised scale greater or less than the right hon. Gentleman mentioned last Session?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

It is not the question of rates that has proved the difficulty. The difficulty has been in securing five farmers to each line. It was also found impracticable in most places to secure as many as three farmers per mile.

Mr. SANDERS

Is the rate increased?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The rate is the same if there are three farmers per mile, that is, £3. If there are only two the rate of £3 10s.

Mr. OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSON

asked what the unlimited telephone rates in large cities of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States are as compared with London and other large towns of the United Kingdom?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

In Austria, the unlimited service rate for areas with more than 20,000 subscribers is £16 13s. a year. In Germany the corresponding rate is £9, but the German administration have stated that this rate is very unremunerative in the case of large users. In Switzerland, all telephone service is given on a measured rate basis. In New York, the telephone service is given entirely on a measured rate basis, and the unlimited service rates are exceptional in other large cities. In Chicage and Boston these rates are 125 dollars, or about £26 a year. In London, the unlimited service rate is £17 a year, but this covers calls to distant parts of the area which in other countries would be regarded as inter-urban or trunk calls, and for which special fees would have to be paid. Outside London, although there are many agreements in force at the obsolete unlimited service rate of £10 a year, there has been no current unlimited service rate for business connections since 1907; but for private residences there is still an unlimited service rate of £8 a year.

Mr. HARRY LAWSON

In order to elucidate this information more fully, will the right hon. Gentleman agree to the appointment of a Select Committee of the House to investigate the conditions of the telephone service?

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman can hardy be expected to make up his mind as to the appointment of a Select Committee without notice.

Mr. OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSON

asked whether the recent purchase of the National Telephone Company and the transfer of its business to the Post Office is so far settled that the formation of an independent body on the lines of the Port of London Authority can no longer be practically considered?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Yes, Sir.