§ 37. Major COLFOXasked whether, when a house in which the telephone is installed changes hands, if is the practice of the telephone department to make a surcharge of £4 against the incoming tenant for the use of the telephone for the remainder of the year for which the sub scription has been paid; if so, what is the justification for making this surcharge; and, if it is not the practice of his Department, whether he will give instructions to the officials of the south-east district to cease demanding the surcharge in future?
§ Mr. PEASEA surcharge of £4 is now payable in respect of each new subscriber or each new telephone line. The reason for the surcharge is that under present conditions the tariff charges for giving a telephone service do not cover its cost.