Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Postmaster-General the number of telegraph poles supplied to the Post Office in the last year for which figures are available from home, Empire, and foreign sources, respectively?
§ Sir K. WOODFor the year 1932–33 the number of home-grown telegraph poles ordered by the Post Office was 22,520—representing all the suitable poles offered by home growers on reasonably acceptable terms. In addition, I hope to receive this year over 6,000 home-grown poles of which the delivery is in arrears from previous orders. The balance of poles required to meet the needs of the service, nearly 139,000, was ordered from Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as suitable Empire poles are not obtainable in this country except at prohibitive prices.