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Thursday, 27 October 1955

Senator COOPER (Queensland) (Minister for Repatriation) . - I shall endeavour to reply to the many questions that have been asked about the PostmasterGeneral's Department. Senator Seward referred to outstanding applications for telephones. It is true that a good many applications are outstanding, but that is because the prosperity of Australia during the last six years has induced more people to apply for them. During the year 1954-55, applications for telephones numbered 35,694, compared with about 114,000 in 1953-54 and 90,670 in 1952-53. At the moment, about 10,000 applications for telephones are outstanding.

Senator Ashley - The number outstanding is much greater than that.

Senator COOPER - The number of applicants awaiting telephone installations increased by nearly 10,000 during the year. The total number of applications is about 150,000 a year. The number is increasing every year. Since 1949 over . 400,000 telephones have been installed.

Senator Sandfordreferredto the broadcasting of football matches and similar events. His remarks will be brought to the notice of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. I do not know what proportion of listeners agree with Senator Sandford.

Inreply to Senator Mattner, who spoke of the provision of facilities for the postmaster at Darwin, I can only say that it is impossible to provide all the improvements asked for. I shall bring his remarks to the notice of my colleague.

At the moment, I have no information to give to Senator Willesee about automatic recording attachments for telephones, but I shall ask the PostmasterGeneral to give him a direct reply.

Senator MARRIOTT (TASMANIA) asked when the proposed broadcasting station for Hobart would be built. My information is that the building will be constructed when money and materials are available.

The building of broadcasting stations in the north-west of Western Australia was raised by Senator Vincent. At the present time, there is Station 6GN at Gerald ton and another at Kalgoorlie - 6GF- which serves the gold-fields district. I admit that people living in the distant parts of Australia are at a disadvantage. I lived in the outback for many years, and I know that that is so. The Minister and the Australian Broadcasting Commission are also well aware of that fact. I can only tell the honorable senator that stations will be built in outback areas as soon as possible. I move -

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