§ Captain WARINGasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the charge for rural telephone service on the Continent is generally lower than that laid down for the British Isles, and that the party-line system has been abandoned as impracticable in Finland and replaced by the double line system; and whether he can see his way to modify his proposals in respect of the rural telephone service in this country?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware that in some parts of the Continent the charge for a telephone service is lower than in this country. The information which I have on this subject is contained in Parliamentary Paper Order No. 316, of 14th April, 1910. I have no information as to the abandonment of the party line system in Finland. The possibility of modifying the conditions applicable to the provisions of rural party lines is at present under my consideration.