§ 64. Mr. HURDasked the Postmaster-General why he has refused the application for a telephonic call office at Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset, although 20 telephone wires pass through the village; and whether, seeing that most of the shopping and other business of the village is done at towns several miles away and that the nearest telephone offices are two miles distant, he will provide facilities in the village on terms which are within the reach of the inhabitants?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe line passing through the village carries busy trunk telephone and telegraph circuits which cannot be broken into. A call office at 1706 Hinton Charterhouse has been offered under a guarantee of £23 10s., the annual cost of a connection with the Limpley Stoke Exchange. A guarantee is necessary, as it is estimated that the receipts would be only about £5 a year.
§ Mr. HURDMay I ask whether, having regard to the failure of this rural telephone system, the right hon. Gentleman will ask the Agricultural Committee of this House to name, say, three Members who know something of agricultural conditions, to advise him as to how to make the system fall in with the needs of the agricultural community?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.