§ Mr. L. SMITHasked the Postmaster-General how many telephone party-lines still exist in the rural districts of this country; whether they are being gradually replaced by the automatic system; and by what date he expects this process to be complete?
§ Sir E. BENNETTAt the 31st October, 1935, there were 918 Rural Party Line circuits. The conversion of an exchange to automatic working generally involves the cessation of any Rural Party Lines connected with it, the subscribers being offered exclusive service at the appropriate charges. The programme of conversion to automatic working is expected to take five or six years.