NEW SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 196, 1 June 1934, Page 8

NEW SERVICE

NEW TELEPHONE TOLL CALLS.

‘‘PERSON-TO-PERSON” SYSTEM. vs» (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 31. An innovation in telephone toll calls will be introduced in about a month. In addition to the present facilities, with which the publio is familiar, a call, to be known as the “person-to-person” service, will be made available, on paymeift of a special fee. This announcement was made by the Post-master-General (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) in an interview' to-day. In illustrating the operation of the system the Minister said that under the new facility country people would be allowed to put in a ring for a doctor, say, in Wellington, and the Wellington telephone exchange would have to find 1 the doctor, whether 110 was, at home, on the golf links, or in Lambeth Quay; and until the. doctor was found no charge would be made, excxept a nominal charge for the service. Also, if the doctor first telephoned could not ho found, a second number could be given, still at the one charge. ADVANTAGE to business firms. WELLINGTON, May 31. Commenting on the announcement by the Postmaster-General of the new toll Facilities, Mr A. 0. Heany, secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, stated that the post and telegraph department had acted on a request made by the Associated Chambers for the introduction! of a system tfhich was in successful operation in Great Britain, Australia, and certain other countries. At present, particularly over long distances, there was a risk of expense and inconvenience in toll calls, because the particular person wanted was not always available. The result was a restriction of the use of the telephone for toll purposes. The “person-to-person” system, Mr Heany said, gave toll users an assurance that if the particular person desired was not available when a call was put through they would be liable for no more than a nominal fee. The system would he a distinct advantage to the business and general community, and should increase the revenue of the’ department by encouraging longdistance calls.