§ 34. Mr. STANIERasked the Postmaster-General whether telephones cannot now be erected, under the scheme as brought out by himself for rural telephones by party-lines, on account of the funds being exhausted; and if this fund will be renewed and how many rural party-lines have been erected?
§ Captain NORTONThe amount already authorised by the Treasury for the experimental provision of rural party-line telephones has been expended or allocated to lines under construction, but I have requested and hope shortly to receive authority for further expenditure which will meet all public requirements until the scheme can be put on a settled basis after adequate experience of its working. About 900 subscribers are being served by lines of this class or are about to be served by lines now being constructed, and the proposals now under consideration will provide for about 500 more subscribers.
Mr. STANERCan the hon. Gentleman tell us how many have absolutely been completed and how many new schemes have been refused?
§ Captain NORTONI can only state that about 900 subscribers are either served or are about to be served by the lines under construction, and that about 500 more are about to be provided for.
§ 35. Mr. GOLDMANasked what steps the Postmaster-General is taking to extend the telephone system to districts where it is not yet available; and whether it is the policy of the Post Office to refuse facilities unless sufficient local support is forthcoming to make the extension profitable to the Department?
§ Captain NORTONTelephone district managers are responsible for inquiring 19 and reporting as to the provision of telephone facilities at places not already served. Fifty-one new exchanges were opened in the year 1912. Extensions are made even if they are not remunerative at the outset, provided that they are not likely to involve a loss to the taxpayer for any considerable period.
§ Mr. GOLDMANIs not that the same argument as was put forward by the National Telephone Company? Would the difficulties be remedied by the nationalisation of the telephones?
§ Captain NORTONI do not think we are following a very different policy to that followed by the National Telephone Company.
§ 36. Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of his refusal to lay the Report of the late chief engineer of the Post Office on the Continental system of telephony before Parliament, he will inform the House whether that authority reported on the automatic systems installed in Germany and elsewhere; and whether and in respect of which systems examined by him his Report was favourable?
§ Captain NORTONThe Reports in question so far as received contain only a few general observations on some of the automatic and semi-automatic exchanges installed by Messrs. Siemens and Halske on a system based on the American "Strowger" system. A favourable view is expressed of the mechanical and electrical efficiency of the apparatus. The present engineer-in-chief and other officers of the Post Office have visited a number of automatic exchanges in Holland and Germany which are all constructed on the system mentioned above, and have obtained detailed information as to their working.
§ Mr. GOLDMANDo I understand that the Government are making experiments with other systems as well as those recommended by the authorities?
§ Captain NORTONNo. We are making full inquiries in connection with all systems.
§ 38. Mr. GOLDSMITHasked the Postmaster-General whether he is fully maintaining all the provisions made by the late National Telephone Company for bringing to the notice of the public the advantages of telephonic communication?
§ Captain NORTONI am fully maintaining the contract staffs of the various districts by whom this work was done under the National Telephone Company.
§ Mr. GOLDMANIs the Postmaster-General maintaining a staff of canvassers to bring the telephones to the notice of the public in the same way as the National Telephone Company did?
§ Captain NORTONNo, Sir. As a matter of fact canvassing has been temporarily discontinued in localities where, for the time being, we have a shortage of plant.
§ 39. Mr. GOLDSMITHasked how many people have applied for connections at the special rate for farmers lines, how many of these have signed orders, and how many have actually been connected with the system; and whether the developments of this system has been retarded by Treasury restrictions?
§ Captain NORTONIt is not practicable to say precisely how many people have applied for rural party lines. About 900 agreements have been accepted, and by the end of last month about 450 subscribers were using the service. Proposals under consideration will provide for approximately 500 more subscribers. Some delay has arisen recently in dealing with applications for such lines owing to the necessity for applying to the Treasury for authority to exceed the experimental Grant of £10,000. I am in communication with the Treasury on the subject.
§ Mr. SANDYSCan the hon. Gentleman state in what counties the party line system is in or will shortly be in operation?
§ Captain NORTONI must ask for notice. But it is in operation in a number of counties.
§ 40. Mr. GOLDSMITHasked what amount was estimated to be spent in telephone construction from March, 1912, to March, 1913; how much of this has already been expended; whether the balance will be sufficient to fully reach all requirements; and, if not, whether a Supplementary Estimate will be asked for?
§ Captain NORTONIt was estimated that £2,700,000 would be spent out of telephone capital on telephone construction during the year ending the 31st March, 1913. The amount actually spent cannot at present be stated, but it is clear 21 that a considerable sum remains unexpended, mainly on account of the difficulty of obtaining an adequate number of skilled men to carry out the work. As the money required for this purpose is not provided by a Parliamentary Vote but by loan authorised under the Telegraph Acts, no question of a Supplementary Estimate could in any case arise. The expenditure in the year 1913–14 will be considerably greater than during the financial year, which ends to-day.