§ Mr. Liddallasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that 1s. calls made from a public call-box after 7 p.m. are charged an extra 2d. as call-box fee; and whether he is prepared to remove this extra charge as in the case of telegrams sent from public call-boxes?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThe merging of the call office fee in the charge for a telegram was effected with the object of extending the number of points at which telegrams can be accepted without extra charge particularly when local post offices are closed. The conditions in the telephone service are different; and, as the charges for long distance calls have recently been substantially reduced, I do not feel justified in incurring the loss of revenue which would result from the abolition of the call office fee.