§ 66. Mr. DELANYasked the Postmaster-General whether he is now prepared to accede to the request of the inhabitants of Durrow, Queen's County, to have the telephone system extended to that town, seeing that the requisite guarantees are forthcoming?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension, as the support hitherto obtained is not sufficient to warrant the extension of the telephone system to Durrow. I will write to the hon. Member stating the precise conditions on which the scheme can be proceeded with.
§ 67. Mr. ASTORasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an application was made in March last for the installation of a telephone at 13, Grosvenor Place; that on 28th April an agreement for an exchange line and internal extension was accepted on behalf of the Postmaster-General, and will he explain why no instrument has yet been installed; and why, on the applicant calling at the General Post Office, it was stated that no promise can be given that an instrument will be installed this year or within any specified time?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe first application was received on the 5th of April, but the agreement was not signed until the 20th of April, in consequence of the subscriber's absence abroad. The reason for the delay in providing the service was a temporary shortage of wires in existing cables and of exchange accommodation. A new cable has been laid, and the service was provided from the Regent Exchange, on the 28th June. I have been unable to verify any statement made at the Post Office to the effect that no promise could be given to instal the instrument this year. But having regard to possible wayleave and other difficulties in installing a telephone service, it is frequently necessary to inform subscribers that no definite date can be given for the completion of an installation.
§ Earl WINTERTONIn view of the constant complaints of delay in setting up telephones after the agreements have been signed, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire why there was a shortage of cables?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am afraid there has been a shortage of cable and 1664 also of exchange accommodation in a large number of districts taken over from the National Telephone Company.
§ Earl WINTERTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it a satisfactory state of affairs that it should take two months to install a telephone?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo; I should like to see the period very much diminished. As a matter of fact, telephones are now being installed in a comparatively short time as a rule. There are exceptional cases, especially where wayleave difficulties arise.
§ Earl WINTERTONThe worst telephone system in the world!