§ Major GLYNasked the Postmaster-General the difference between a telegram, a followgram, and a telephone letter; to what extent are telegrams sent by morse instrument compared to those sent by telephone; and to what extent does the telephoning of telegrams occupy the local telephone circuits and prevent telephone subscribers having the full benefit of the service for which they subscribe in rural districts?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe term "phonogram" is applied to a telegram which is telephoned to a past office instead of being handed in over the counter, or is telephoned by the post office to the addressee instead of being delivered to him by a messenger. The term "telephone-telegram" is applied to a telegram which is telephoned from one post office to another in the course of its transmission. A "telephone letter" is a message dictated by telephone to a post office for onward transmission and delivery by post. It is not a telegram. According to the latest figures available, 28.4 per cent. of the inland telegraph traffic is dealt with by morse instruments and 13.5 per cent. by telephone. The remainder is dealt with mainly by machine telegraph apparatus. The number of telegrams handled in rural districts is small, and telephone lines are not used for their transmission where such use would interfere with the service afforded to telephone subscribers.
[NOTE.—It is assumed that "follow-gram" should be "phonogram," and that what is really desired is an explanation of the difference between a phonogram and a telephone-telegram.]