§ Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster-General if he will state, for each year since 1898, the extent to which men were paid off and telephone works were suspended owing to the Post Office not having money available during the year for that purpose?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe cost of telephone construction works is met out of capital sums provided under the Telegraph Money Acts and the progress of such works is not dependent on the amount of Annual Votes. Owing to some uncertainty as to the dates at which the Money Bills of 1903 and 1907 would be passed telephone construction was some-what restricted for a short period in each of those years, but the effect was not serious as regards either the service or the staff. It is impracticable now to distinguish any discharges due to this or to other causes. I do not anticipate any further difficulties of the same kind. The recent temporary suspension of the acceptance of agreements for rural party lines pending an additional Grant by the Treasury has not led to any cessation of work or discharge of staff.