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54
improvements to be undertaken next year, it will
take into consideration the claims of Clerkenwell
in the matter of widening Goswell Road and St.
John Street at the narrow part of each, the latter
improvement having been actually commenced by
the Metropolitan Board of Works when making
Clerkenwell Road in 1878.
London Telephone Service.—In response to a
letter from the City Corporation, asking support to
their request to the Treasury for an enquiry into
the cost and efficiency of the Telephone service in
London and all matters relating thereto, the
Vestry resolved to support the action of the Corporation,
and sent delegates to a conference upon
the subject.
The report of the delegates was as follows:—
LONDON TELEPHONE SERVICE.
We beg to report that we attended the Conference of
Local Authorities at the Guildhall, and that the following
resolutions were passed:—
"That in the opinion of this Conference of Delegates,
representing the Corporation of London, and the Vestries
and Local Boards in the Metropolis, the present Telephone
service of London is both inadequate, inefficient and costly."
"That in the opinion of this Conference an enquiry
should be held by the Treasury as to the cost, adequacy and
efficiency of the London Telephone service, and all matters
relating thereto, agreeably to the request of the Local
Authorities of London, and as to what steps."
"That inasmuch as the National Telephone Company is
not possessed of statutory powers for placing mains, pipes
or wires underneath the streets of the Metropolis it is
undesirable the road authorities should give such permission
until the interests of the public are duly secured by statute
as in the case of Tramways and Electric Lighting undertakings,
as with the previous consent of the Road
Authority."