54. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of having opened up telephonic communication with the United States; and whether it is expected that the service will be self-supporting?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONFor the period 7th-31st of January the running costs of the British end of the trans-Atlantic telephone service, including sundry expenses incidental to the initiation of the service, amounted to approximately £2,000, and plant charges—depreciation and interest—to a further £1,900. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.