§ 57. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Postmaster-General if he will consult with the suitable authorities and arrange for the installation of more cab-rank telephone boxes in the Marylebone district; and will he also arrange that the telephone boxes at cab ranks should be painted pillar-box red and should state their telephone numbers so that the facilities offered may be brought to the notice of the public?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHTelephones are provided free of charge at cab-ranks where the estimated traffic warrants their provision; and 10 cab-ranks in the Marylebone district are already fitted with telephones. The question of extending the facility is reviewed from time to time, and if the hon. and gallant Member has any particular case in mind, I will have inquiries made. If the telephone boxes were painted red there would be some risk of confusion with fire telephones and other appliances used by the Fire Brigade; and I do not propose to adopt this suggestion. Arrangements have been made for the telephone numbers of all cab-rank telephones to be displayed in white block letters and figures on a black background.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is, for example, a cab-rank telephone box in Marylebone, and that., as I came down by it, I saw that there was no number on it? Further, do we understand him to say that there are only 10 cab-rank telephone boxes in the whole Metropolitan area?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHNo, I meant in Marylebone. I did not say that these notices had been erected; I said that arrangements had been made.