TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 91, 18 April 1922, Page 4

TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES.

We have no desire to check the zeal of the Poet and Telegraph Department for economy, but it is doubtful'whether its handling of the telephone directory business is the best that can be done under the circumstances. The introduction of advertisements may produce a substantial revenue, but we note that according to an official statement made in Wellington- a contract had been made with an outside firm for the printing of the directories before the Department decided to accept advertisements. Arrangement, have been made, however, by which the cost of production to the Government "will be very much reduced," and it is anticipated that before long the directory will he self-supporting. We hope so. Is there, however, any need to farm ont a publication of this kind? Could the Government not keep the business in its own hands? The omission of tbe numerical index from the directory and its sale in separate form are defended on the ground of economy and practice elsewhere. If we remember rightly, it baa been stated that it coat the Department £1,400 to prepare these indexes, Nbw they are to be issued separately by the contractors for the directories and sold at 2/0 apiece. There are nearly j 90,000 telephone connections in the i Dominion, and we suppose it would I not be an extravagant estimate to say that 30,000 subscribers would he willing to pay 2/6 for an index. If they are, it will mean that the contractor will receive £3750, which, if his expenses are no more than the Department's (and they may be less), will give a nice profit. Ealf-a-erown is surely an* extortionate charge for information that covers in the case of Auckland—the largest centreonly twenty pages. The contention that the Department has nothing to do with this price is absurd. It has a duty to protect the public.