§ 23. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the pressing demand of traders and agriculturists in Tisbury and distict for the opening of a telephone exchange there, and of the fact that more than a year has elapsed since an application was made to him by residents at Tisbury for such an exchange, he will take steps to inaugurate it without further delay?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have already authorised the establishment of a telephone exchange at Tisbury and instructions have been issued for the work to be proceeded with. I fear, however, that it will take several months to complete the installation as the Post Office engineers have in hand an unprecedented amount of new construction work.
§ 24. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Postmaster-General whether the Wallpaper Manufacturers, Limited, of Greenhithe, Kent, after discussing with a representative of the London telephone service the installation of an additional telephone line, sent a signed application to the controller on the 30th May; that this was formally acknowledged on the 31st May; that the applicants wrote on the 13th June asking when they might expect the installation of the new instrument, and the letter was acknowledged on the 14th June, but no information was given; that they wrote again on the 12th July asking to be wired what was being done in the matter and also drawing attention to the fact that one of their extension lines was out of order and required attention; whether these matters have been attended to and, if so, when; and whether he can state the reason for the delay?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe premises of the Wallpaper Manufacturers, Limited, are situated outside the London telephone area, and their application, which was for a circuit to an exchange in that area instead of the proper local exchange, had to be specially considered. A question of 1685 principle was involved which might affect a large number of cases of subscribers occupying premises beyond but not distant from the boundary of the London telephone area. A definite reply will be given to the application within a few days. The letter dated the 12th July (Saturday) in which the Wallpaper Manufacturers, Limited, reported that one of their extensions was out of order, was received on the 14th July, and the fault was cleared on that day.