§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Postmaster-General whether he has any information to give the House as to the abolition of trunk telephone systems and the substitution of toll systems; and whether he expects any reduction in long-distance telephone charges as a result of changes to be made?
§ Mr. VIANTSteps are being taken by the Post Office to modify the methods of operating long-distance calls so as to enable a large proportion of such calls to be completed while the calling subscriber remains at his telephone, as is already the case with those for shorter distances. The primary object of these improvements is to speed up the service, and so to encourage the use of the telephone for long-distance communications. The charges for long-distance calls were materially reduced 18 months ago, and the possibility of further reductions must depend on such working economies as it may prove practicable to effect, and on the extent to which the demand responds to the improvements which are being made in the quality of the service.