§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the present charge for delivering a telegram from Cleator to Ennerdale, Cumberland, is 2s. 6d.; that there is no telephone in the parish of Ennerdale; and, in the event of the Ennerdale and Kinniside Parish Council, or other inhabitants, agreeing to provide the required guarantee of £26 10s per annum, if he will give instructions for the necessary extension of the telephone service to Ennerdale, and also make provision for the calls to be delivered, as is now the practice in several country villages in West Cumberland?
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§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSEnnerdale village is reported to be three miles distant from Cleator Moor Post Office, and no charge is made for porterage of telegrams within that radius. Beyond three miles a charge of 6d. per mile is made, and it would seem that the charge of 2s. 6d. to which the hon. Member refers can only apply to outlying places. The guarantee of £26 10s. to which the hon. Member refers would only cover the provision of a telephone call office from which telephone calls could be made and telegrams dictated by the sender to the nearest telegraph office. The provision of telegraph delivery facilities would involve considerable additional expense, and I am ascertaining what additional guarantee would be required.