Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that persons in Rutherglen who ordered a telephone, and signed a contract with the Post Office early in September, are still without a telephone; whether he will state how many people there are in Rutherglen who have ordered a telephone more than three weeks ago and have not yet been supplied; and what is the reason for this delay?
§ Captain NORTONYes. I regret that there has been some delay in providing Exchange lines at Rutherglen owing to lack of accommodation on the existing routes, and a scheme of underground cable work is now being carried out. There are four orders on hand at present, and it is hoped to make temporary arrangements for affording a service in these cases within a fortnight.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Postmaster-General whether ho is aware that under the old National Telephone system, for a charge of 25s. per annum, a man living seven miles from the Royal Exchange in Glasgow may still have a party-line telephone and obtain connections within a radius of fourteen miles, while, if the telephone had to be installed now, he would have to pay £8 10s. per annum, and would be restricted to a local area unless he paid an additional penny per call; and whether any decision has yet been come to regarding the adoption of a uniform charge for party-line telephones in country or suburban districts with a view to ending the hardships caused by the present variations?
§ Captain NORTONI do not know how the hon. Member arrives at the amount of £8 10s. to which he refers. Five pounds would be the charge for an exclusive line at the current measured service rate, 1727W covering 500 calls, corresponding with the party line rate of 25s. That rate was for the part use of a line shared by as many as twenty subscribers. The National Telephone Company found the rate un-remunerative, and the effect of these lines on the service very unsatisfactory. They therefore discontinued to offer the rate to new subscribers about six or seven years ago, though a considerable number of the old agreements still remain in force. The matter will be dealt with in connection with the revision of rates which my right bon. Friend has promised to make as soon as the purchase price of the National Telephone Company's system has been settled.
§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Postmaster-General whether he can now see his way to establish a Telephone Exchange for High Bentham and Low Bentham, as agreed to by the National Telephone Company in March, 1911, before the system was transferred to the Post Office?
§ Captain NORTONSufficient support has now been obtained to justify the establishment of an Exchange at Bentham. The work will be proceeded with as soon as the preliminary arrangements can be completed.
§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet seen his way to establish a circuit for rural party-line telephone subscribers at Waddington, near Clitheroe, after the inquiries that he instituted in May, 1911?
§ Captain NORTONThe rural party-line at Waddington, near Clitheroe, was brought into use in July last.
Dr. O'NEILLasked the Postmaster-General if he has received a petition from the residents in Poyntzpass, county Armagh, expressing their desire to have a telephone call office established there; and, if so, what steps have been taken to comply with their wishes in the matter?
§ Captain NORTONInquiry is being made whether it will be practicable to comply with the desire of the residents of Poyntzpass for the establishment of a telephone call office there. A decision will be given as soon as possible.