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Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 3

Regarding the agitation for the redue- ! tion of telephone charges, Sir Joseph comj batted the contention that New Zealand rates are higher than those of the Ooni- - mon wealth. He stated tha-t if the toll ] system.were introduced here, subscribers i would have fewer connections 'than at ' j present charges. To reduce the cost per ,' j mile of telephones in country districts ') would mean increasing cnarges to town 11 subscribers. The amount earned on the ?< capital cost of the New Zealand system! ; -was very low, and the margin would not I 5 permit reductions. Unlike the convey- 1 °. ; ance of letters or packages by rail, telep phone subscribers could not be increased ■-. without'incurring an increase of the capi-' *j tal <jost, which point appeared to be lost 0 sight of by those advocating reductions. ?! At the Hamilton Police Court to-day, 4 G. Mprxell, a Maori youth, was com--1 mitted for trial to the District Court, on .; a charge of theft of a bicycle,, the property of Mr. Sharocl, of Kaukton.