§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the advisability of opening automatic rural exchanges with six subscribers instead of insisting on eight subscribers; and if, in order to give an impetus to the spread of the telephone system, he will consider the suggestion?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHIn view of the high cost of providing and maintaining small rural automatic exchanges, which are run at a loss, I regret that I could not justify any reduction in the minimum number of eight subscribers required. The reduction of rates which I have already announced in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. W. B. Taylor) will, I hope, stimulate the development of the telephone service in country districts.