§ 62. Mr. LESLIE BOYCEasked the Postmaster-General the Dominions with which regular telephonic communication has been established; the average number of calls per week in each case; and whether the number of calls and the revenue therefrom have reached his original expectations?
§ Mr. ATTLEERadiotelephonic communication is available between this country and Canada and Australia. The average weekly number of calls is about 17 with Canada and about 27 with Australia. The traffic is rather less than was expected. It has doubtless been affected by the trade depression and should increase when general conditions improve.
§ 63. Mr. BOYCEasked the Postmaster-General the reasons why regular telephonic communications have not yet been established between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, South Africa and India?
§ Mr. ATTLEEExperiments are being carried out with a view to extending the Anglo-Australian telephone service to New Zealand by means of switching in Australia; and I hope that it may be possible to open a service between this country and New Zealand in the course of the next few months. As regards South Africa, the Union authorities concerned have declared themselves in favour of the establishment of a Government-owned wireless station near Johannesburg for the operation of a wireless telephone service with this country, but it is understood that they do not feel able to Commit themselves at present to the 803 capital expenditure involved. I understand that the Government of India is in negotiation with the Indian Radiotelegraph Company for the provision of a radiotelephone station for communication with this country, but these negotiations have not yet been completed.