§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the ordinary cost of a telephone call for Dublin from Belfast is 1s for three minutes' conversation, 1528W and that this amount is charged from the moment application for the call is made, without regard to whether the wire is engaged or not; whether he is aware that if two or more parties are on the wire the cost is only 3d.; whether he is aware that this system is the cause of dissatisfaction both in Dublin and in Belfast; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to providing that where no call is obtained no charge should be made, and that the time charged for should only commence from the time the caller has the use of the wire?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe charge for a telephone call between Dublin and Belfast is one shilling, but the call is not timed from the moment of application. It is charged for from the moment when conversation begins after the exchange lines of the caller in Dublin and his correspondent in Belfast have been connected by a trunk line. If the calling subscriber asks that a call may be cancelled because it is found that his correspondent is engaged on another call when the trunk line is ready for use a reduced charge of three-pence is mad for the useless work and occupation of the trunk line. This arrangement seems reasonable, and I am not aware that it is a cause of dissatisfaction in Dublin and Belfast.