Mr. SANDEMANasked the Postmaster-General what percentage of trunk telephone wires are now underground?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONOf the total mileage of wire in use for trunk telephone purposes on the 31st December last 47.9 per cent. consisted of underground conductors.
Mr. SANDEMANasked the Postmaster-General what the cost of upkeep on overhead trunk wires for 1924 was compared to that of underground wires for the same period?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONFigures for trunk wires, as distinguished from other wires, are not available. The cost of upkeep varies with the gauge of wire, number of wires on the pole route or cable and other factors. Broadly speaking, it may be said that where many wires follow a given route, underground wires involve lower costs of upkeep per circuit than overhead wires.