asked the Postmaster-General how long is the usual interval between the signing of a contract for a telephone and its installation in a house already wired for it.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONES.
It is not possible to give a general answer to the question. The time which elapses from the signing of an agreement by a subscriber to the installation of the telephone depends upon several factors, such as the locality, the number of prior orders on hand, whether spare wires already exist between the premises and the Exchange, or whether the erection of poles and wires is necessary. In a district served by underground cables, if no spare wires are available in the cables, delay in executing new orders must necessarily occur until additional cables are laid. The fact that a house is wired does not always indicate that the fixing of a telephone in the house is all that is required to provide a service.
Arising out of that answer, may I ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that I signed a contract on the 3rd October for a telephone, and that the telephone has not been supplied yet? Is he going to charge me the full quarter's rent when I will have the telephone for only six weeks?
The Deputy will be charged pro rata.
A baffling reply.