HC Deb 07 August 1916 vol 85 cc805-6

"Before entering on land or buildings for the purpose of the construction or maintenance of any telegraphic line the Postmaster-General shall, except in case of emergency, endeavour to make an arrangement with the occupier of the land as to the times of entry for such purpose, and if any difference arises between the Postmaster-General and the occupier it shall be determined in mannaer aforesaid."— [Sir F. Banbury.]

Clause brought up, and read the first time.

Sir F. BANBURY

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."

The effect of this Clause, which I understand the right hon. Gentleman is willing to accept, is to give the Postmaster-General the same power for making arrangements as to entering on any houses where there are telegraphic or telephonic lines requiring construction or repair as he has when he enters on property in order to set up a new line. It is necessary that something of this sort should be done, otherwise an arbitrary official might go to somebody's house in the middle of the night and say he had come to repair the telephone or telegraph. Something of that sort actually happened to me many years ago, not from the Postmaster-General, but from a company. I will not say which it was. Very early in the morning, when it was just light, I suddenly found two or three men getting in through the window. On being asked what they were doing they said they had come to repair the telephone. I was naturally somewhat angry, and said, "You may take the telephone away," and as a matter of fact it was removed. I think a Clause of this sort should be inserted, so that reasonable arrangements shall be made and the legal powers are only those which the Postmaster-General has already accepted and put in in Clause 1.

Clause read a second time, and added to the Bill.

Bill reported; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.