§ 35. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Postmaster-General whether the poles carrying telephone wires erected on the sidewalks 219 in many thoroughfares in the North London district are intended to be permanent or temporary; and, if the latter, when they are likely to be removed and the wires placed underground?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe retention or removal of the poles in question depends entirely on the development of the telephone service in the respective neighbourhoods. In residential districts it is the usual practice for the main wires to the exchange to be run in underground cables, and for the wires connecting these main cables to subscribers' premises to be erected overhead from distributing poles. These poles remain until the density of telephone subscribers has increased sufficiently to justify the greater expense of underground distribution.
§ Mr. BOWERMANAs these poles may probably be of a permanent character will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of attaching a light, so that pedestrians in foggy and bad weather can be safeguarded?