§ Major GLYNasked the Postmaster-General how many applications have been received for telephones during the last financial year and to what extent were these demands satisfied; and what is the estimated number of applicants who will take immediate advantage of the new proposal to reduce the rate for lines in rural districts?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONDuring the year ending the 31st March last orders for about 262,000 new telephones were received and executed. On that date there were only about 100 orders outstanding which could not be met owing to plant shortage. As regards the second part of the question, it is not practicable to furnish a reliable estimate.
§ Mr. DAYasked the Postmaster-General what is the usual number of night telephone operators employed in an ordinary telephone exchange; and how this figure compares with the numbers employed during the daytime?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe telephone staff on duty through the night varies at different exchanges from one upwards. It does not bear any uniform ratio to day staff, because the proportion of night calls to day calls varies widely at different exchanges.