§ Mr. GRANTasked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the question of the establishment of a telephone call office at Beckermet, Cumberland, in view of the fact of the increase of the population and of the rateable value, which is now between £33,000 and £34,000?
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§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI shall be happy to make further inquiries to ascertain whether there has been any change in the circumstances since last year which would now justify the establishment of a telephone call office at Beckermet, Cumberland.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Postmaster-General whether he has personally considered an application recently made on behalf of three farmers in the neighbourhood of Woolaston, in the county of Gloucester, for the establishment there of a rural party line telephone service; why, seeing that the main telephone line from Lydney to Chepstow passes within five yards of the house of one farmer and within half a mile of those of the other two, such application has been refused; and whether there is any and, if any, what method open to these farmers of obtaining telephone facilities at an annual contribution within their financial means?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELA canvass was made at Woolaston to ascertain whether sufficient support to justify the provision of a rural party line could be obtained. Only three offers to subscribe were, however, obtained, whereas Woolaston being over three miles distant from the nearest existing exchange, about ten subscribers would be necessary before a service could be provided at the ordinary rural party line rate. The main telephone trunk lines are not available for use for rural exchange party lines.