asked the Postmaster-General whether the contracts for the extensions of telephone cables now being carried out between Belfast, Newtownards, Bangor, and adjoining places were put up to public competition; and what steps were taken to bring the matter to the notice of possible tenderers?

The contracts in question, which were for the laying of earthenware ducts, were put out to com- petitive tender among firms selected from the Department's list of eligible contractors.