§ 84. Mr. JAMES BROWNasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the village of Dalrymple, Ayrshire, is wholly without telephonic or telegraphic communication, that there is no medical doctor in the parish, and that 1471 when medical assistance is needed it must be brought from the neighbouring parishes of Ayr, Maybole, or Colyton; if he is aware that at the outbreak of war negotiations were on foot to have a small exchange at Dalrymple Post Office and that five or six persons offered themselves as subscribers; and whether he will now undertake to arrange for an exchange for telephonic or telegraphic communication, or both, for the village?
§ The ASSISTANT-POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pease)In September, 1913, the question of providing a public telephone service at Dalrymple was considered, but the proposal had to be dropped, as it was not justified financially. I am arranging for further inquiry to be made as to the case for the introduction of a telegraph or telephone service.
86. Mr. TERRELLasked when the repairs to the breakdown of the telephone service which occurred on the 3rd January last in the Chippenham Division of Wiltshire will be made good; and whether he is aware that great local inconvenience is caused by the delay in making good?
§ Mr. PEASEThe major portion of the repairs will be completed by the end of the present month, and the whole will, it is hoped, be finished by the middle of April. The difficulty of completing the repairs has been due to the widespread storm damage, and the fact that very large numbers of the engineering workmen were, and in most cases still are, serving in the Army.