§ 71. Viscount SANDONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that hamlets adjacent to Marton, together with that village itself, in the county of Salop, though on a trunk road over which the telegraph wires run, has no free delivery of telegrams, and that 6d. has to be paid on each one, except in the case of one house at either end of the village served by the post offices of the adjoining villages; that no telephone has been laid on, although the guarantee demanded has long since been given and though the telephone wires pass overhead; that there is no outward post between midday on Saturdays and Monday nights; and whether he will take immediate steps to remedy these disabilities which are causing discontent, and against which the local parish council has protested?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONAn offer has been made to the Chirbury Parish Council to provide telegraph and telephone facilities at the Marton Post Office if a guarantee is given to defray the deficiency between expenses and revenue for a period of seven years; and it is understood that the parish council will discuss the matter shortly. The circumstances are not such as to warrant provision of the facilities without guarantee. Terms in respect of a telephone call office only were first quoted to the parish council, but they requested that the question of providing both telegraph and telephone facilities should be considered. Since May last the outward despatch of letters from Marton on Saturdays has been made earlier in order to afford the local postman a weekly half-holiday. The parish council acquiesced in the arrangement before it was introduced.
§ Major COLFOXCould the right hon. Gentleman not do more than he has done hitherto to assist the provision of telephones in rural areas?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am doing all that I can do.