20. Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the Postmaster-General whether, in the case of private telephone subscribers who wish to instal coin-collecting boxes at their instruments, they will have to pay a rental of 30s. per annum for each box, 2d. instead of 1½d. for each local call, and 4d. instead of 3d. for calls involving the trunk fee of 1½d. to other subscribers; whether he can explain why this charge is made; and whether he will consider reducing the charge per call to the ordinary rate of 1½d., so as to enable subscribers who make little use of their instruments to have a method of contri- 1699 bution which eliminates all chance of error in charging up wrong numbers and ineffective calls?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER. GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)The proposed charges for providing coin-collecting boxes in connection with subscribers' exchange circuits are as stated by the hon. Member. The maintenance of these boxes—which are installed chiefly at hotels, boarding houses, and clubs, and thus serve the purpose largely of call offices—is costly, and the check exercised by the telephonist as the coins are dropped into the box adds considerably to the cost of operating the calls. The boxes as at present designed will not take half-pennies, and to introduce additional mechanism would be a costly process, the burden of which would have to fall upon the subscriber. I may add, however, that the arrangements as to the application of these charges are being reviewed.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs it not the case that there are boxes in existence which take half-pennies, whatever may be the new pattern?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs it not a fact that in America they have purely automatic machinery that does not require this additional human service of checking the pennies?
§ Mr. PEASEWhen the inquiry sat in London, evidence was given in regard to the circumstances in America in respect to the matter mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend, but up to the present no satisfactory box has been made.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIf it is the case that 1½d. is only charged in the public call boxes, why do they want more in the case of private subscribers? Does not that show that there is a satisfactory mechanism in existence which will take 1½d.?
§ Colonel MILDMAYIs it not a fact that within 100 yards of this House, on the Metropolitan Railway, the machines have been adapted to receive 1½d.?
§ Mr. PEASEIt is a fact, and I have used it many times myself. I have men- 1700 tioned that the whole question is being considered, and if my hon. and gallant Friend can make any suggestion which will help us I shall be only too glad to consider it.
§ Mr. BETTERTONWill it be competent for the Committee now sitting to consider the question?
§ 22. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General whether he can inform the House as to the most distant point with which telephonic communication has at any time been established with London; and with what Continental capital regular connection can be obtained by London telephone subscribers?
§ Mr. PEASESatisfactory speech was obtained with Berlin (over 800 miles) before the War in the course of experiments. The most distant point with which communication is now obtainable is Marseilles (720 miles). Regular connection can be obtained by London telephone subscribers with Paris and Brussels, and, when sufficient land lines are available in France, a similar service also will be available with Switzerland.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs not that a very pitiable distance for a telephonic service in comparison with what has been done on the other side of the Atlantic, where telephonic communication is made between Catalonia, within thirty miles of the Golden Gate of the Pacific, with Cuba, over 5,000 miles, and is there nothing we can do to increase the length?
§ Mr. PEASEThe hon. Gentleman can hardly expect me to say it is a pitiable result, but I should be very glad if we could copy America as far as that is concerned.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it a fact that Downing Street has been connected with Moscow by telephone for some time?