HC Deb 02 July 1914 vol 64 cc566-7W
Mr. NIELD

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the dispatch of telegrams over the telephone, it has proved impossible to secure anything approaching the same accuracy or facilities for dispatch as can be obtained by the older methods; whether he has received numerous complaints from the public of the want of accuracy and the delay caused by the alteration of the system; and whether, notwithstanding this, he proposes to continue the present methods?

Captain NORTON

I know of no reason for thinking that there has been any deterioration as regards accuracy owing to the use of telephones for the transmission of telegrams at small offices; indeed, the available evidence suggests that the contrary is the case. Delay has certainly been reduced, as intermediate offices can frequently be eliminated when telephones are used. The system is therefore being continued and developed.