HC Deb 16 June 1927 vol 207 cc1183-5
47. Captain FRASER

asked the Postmaster-General if his Department is de- barred from advertising the advantages of the telephone by tradition or by Regulation; and, in the latter case, what authority is responsible for the Regulation?

The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)

There are no Regulations debarring expenditure on advertisement of the telephone service, and, as my hon. and gallant Friend has been informed in answer to previous questions, a considerable amount of advertisement is carried out by means of posters, booklets, etc. I am not quite sure what my hon. and gallant Friend means by "tradition," but I can assure him that the method of seeking new business, mainly by means of personal canvassing in preference to Press advertisement, is pursued, because it is regarded as the most suitable and remunerative method.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

What is the use of advertising telephones when such enormous charges are made for the use of them and such stringent guarantees are required?

Viscount WOLMER

The question of the cost of telephones is a different, though I admit an allied question, into the details of which I shall be happy to go with my hon. and learned Friend.

Captain FRASER

Would not the cost of telephones be decreased if the latent demand were properly exploited by every conceivable avenue of advertisement?

Viscount WOLMER

It is quite true that the more you multiply telephones the more you reduce the cost of construction in certain directions, but it is equally true that you increase the cost of maintenance. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that a great increase in the number of telephones would not by itself produce a decrease in cost.

Sir F. HALL

Are we to understand that the more telephones we get the more it is going to cost, the Post Office?

Viscount WOLMER

I did not say that. If my hon. and gallant Friend looks at my answer to-morrow he will see that you have to set off against the cheaper cost of construction by reason of mass production the increased cost of maintenance owing to the greater complexity of the system. That has not been our experience only, but it has been the experience in America and in other countries.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Is the Noble Lord aware that when I had my telephone changed the other day no less than 16 men attended during one week?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and learned Member is giving information.