asked the Postmaster-General-when it will be possible to publish the list of rural stations and post offices which it is proposed to equip with telephone call-boxes under the new financial proposals of the Government; and whether opportunity will be offered to those places which are not included to urge their claims on the authorities?

A survey of all rural post offices and stations now without telephone facilities is being made, together with details as to cost, appropriate method of connection with existing system, etc., etc. This must necessarily take some time, but, meanwhile, instructions have been given to press on with the task of connecting up in cases where the work involved is known to be relatively small. I cannot at present usefully say more on this question.