§ Colonel Burtonasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the great number of telephone and telegraph lines which were put out of order during the recent storms through the breaking of overhead lines and collapse of poles under the weight of snow and wind; and whether he can state the estimated cost of placing these underground, and the number of men to whom it would give employment?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI am aware of the circumstances. It is the policy of the Post Office to provide telephone service by underground wires in preference to overhead wires wherever financial considerations admit, and about 13,000,000 miles or rather more than 90 per cent. of the total mileage of telephone wire is already in underground cables. A very extensive survey would be necessary in order to ascertain the precise cost of placing the remaining wires underground and the number of men who would be employed, but it is clear that the cost would amount to many millions of pounds and would be prohibitive.