§ 29. Mr. FORRESTasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the public is still being invited to instal telephones in their houses, although his Department is quite unable to carry out current orders within a reasonable time; and whether, under these circumstances, he will discontinue the advertisements referred to until the orders in hand are cleared off?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI would remind the hon. Member that each telephone requires a separate pair of insulated wires to be provided to the nearest exchange, and that there must necessarily be some delay where way-leaves have to be obtained or special engineering works undertaken. There are 13,000 orders in ordinary course of completion—which represents under three weeks' work—and in some 800 cases only are applications for service outstanding pending the completion of new exchanges or other extensive works. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware*that in the South of England the installing of telephones takes nearly three months?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am aware, as I said in the answer, that there are exceptional cases. I am doing my best to deal with them.
§ Captain FRASERIs any delay due to the lack of apparatus?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo, I do not think it would be fair to say that 240 any delay is due to lack of apparatus, as apparatus; but there is delay owing to the difficulty of installing the apparatus.
§ Colonel DAYIs it on account of shortage of labour?