§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Postmaster-General whether it is possible for farmers to obtain for a subscription of £3 a rural party line telephone service unless there is an average of at least three subscribers for each mile of line, exclusive of the first half-mile from the telephone exchange; and, if not, whether there is any 743W other method open to such traders of obtaining telephone facilities where the farms are situate on or near high roads along which public telephone wires pass?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe £3 rate applies only to rural party lines, on which there are three subscribers to the mile on the average, but where an average of only two subscribers per mile is obtainable, rural party lines are provided at a rental of £3 10s. for each subscriber. I have also recently obtained the authority of the Treasury to provide rural party lines at slightly increased rates, varying according to the special circumstances of each case, where the conditions above mentioned are not fulfilled. Main trunk and junction lines which may pass along roads near farms are not available for the connection of farms with exchanges, and additional lines have to be erected for that purpose, although the same poles are used whenever possible.