A FUTURE FOR THE GLEBE 331 



the House of Commons, which sat in the spring of 

 1895, by Major-General Webber, C.B., of the Eoyal 

 Engineers. 



This gentleman is especially fitted to guide opinion 

 in the matter, inasmuch as he served under the 

 Postmaster-General for many years in maintaining, 

 with the aid of two companies of his corps, postal 

 telegraphs over a wide area. He has also, since 

 1880, given close attention to telephony in its several 

 aspects. 



Moreover, General Webber laid his plans, in the 

 shape of a full explanatory and figured statement, 

 before the British Association, at Ipswich, in Septem- 

 ber, 1895, without, as far as I am aware, any of its 

 calculations being successfully impugned. 



There would seem to be a general consensus of 

 opinion that a liberal use of the telephone in rural 

 districts would be of immense advantage to the 

 State. How the telephone should be provided, by 

 whom and under what conditions, may be matter 

 of opinion, and is, in any case, of secondary im- 

 portance. The primary object should be, by hook or 

 by crook, to bring the telephone within the reach of 

 everyone. 



The Postmaster-General could to-morrow lay on 

 day mail conveyances to any point he pleases, and, 

 subject only to the vote of Parliament for supplies, 

 he can put up telephones wheresoever he thinks fit. 

 Even as regards parcel post rates, the Post-Office, 

 with the consent of the Treasury, can do much. In 



