TELEPHONE RATES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 11

TELEPHONE RATES

THE NEW SCHEDULE. The Postmaster-General has forwarded a schedule of the new rates for telephone exchange connexions within baserate areas. The pamphlet states that, for the purpose of fixing a differential scale of flat rates commensurate with the value of the service giver., the exchange systems throughout the Dominion have been classified in groups as follows: — No. 1 Class —Multi-office exchange systems (Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin), comprising the network of exchanges within such multioffice areas, i No. 2 Class—Single-office exchanges (of 1000 paying subscribers and over) with continuous attendance. Examples: Wanganui, Hamilton, Hastings, Invercargill, Timaru. No. 3 Class —Single-office exchanges (of less than 1000 subscribers) with continuous attendance. Example.*: Hawera, Dannevirke, Whangarei Feild- | ing, Oamaru, Wairoa, New Plymouth, Waipawa, Morrinsville. No. 4 Class —Single-office exchanges with restricted attendance. Examples: Paeroa, Waihi, Foxton, Levin, Geraldine, Balclutha, Milton. The annual rate per station is as follows: Individual Line.

The introductory paragraph states: The new system of telephone rating consists of defining an area (known as the base-rate area) for each city or town at which an exchange is in existence, and fixing a schedule of rates at which subscribers within such area may be provided with telephone service irrespective of the location of the subscribers within the area. Tho essential features of the change are that telephone service, which has hitherto been furnished principally on the basis of-the subscriber's distance from the exchange, will in future bs furnished on a flat-rate basis to all subscribers within the base-rate area, with provision for charging, as far *ig practicable on a quantitative basis by fixing a scale of rates for each class of service. The new system is the outcome of a study of the rating systems of the foremost telephone administrations abroad and is t. combination of the American flat-rate and the English message-rate systems, so arranged as to meet the special conditions peculiar to New Zealand. ' The term of contract in respect of all new connexions shall be for a period certain of one year at least. In cases where an unusual amount of capital expenditure is required to provide a connexion, the usual term of contract shall bo extended to ensure the Department receiving over a period of time a reasonable return on the capital outlay. The zone or base-rate area that will be defined for each city or town at which an exchange is in existence will not be restricted to the city area proper or to tho area indicated by the town boundary. It may be elongated in soma directions to include important suburbs, and recurved in other diriections to avoid natural barriers to cable distribution (rivers, etc.) and unprofitable undeveloped aroas; the area decided upon being that which will en able the greatest number possible to be served at an equitable flat rate. At each of the four cities where certain suburban exchanges are regarded as component parts of the city exchange system the base-rate area will incorporate tho areas of these exchanges, and the whole will bo termed the "multi-office area." The multioffice area at each of the four chief cities will be approximately 28 square miles. At the single-office exchanges the base-rate area, though not as extensive as a multi-office area, will nevertheless be of sufficient extent to include the bulk of the existing subscribers, and at tho same time make provision for telephone development iu desirable directions. The boundaries of the area decided upon at the No. 2 class exchanges will be defined by public roads, imaginary lines, and natural boundaries, and will comprise an are:i of approximately 20 square miles. At the No. 3 and No. 4 class exchanges tho boundaries of the base-rate area, unless otherwise specifically defined, will be two miles distant by pole-line route measurement from the exchange Beyond the boundary of a base-rato area extra mileage charges will be payable for each furlong or fraction thereof that the subscriber is distant from the terminal pole at the base-rate boundary. The extra mileage rates to be individual ,lines, per furlong or fraction thereof 10s, two-party lines, per subscriber, per furlong ot fraction ss; four-party lines 2s Gd. In cases where the providing of exclusive or party-line service involves the erection of an unusual number of poles, and there is no prospect of additional circuits being required in the immediate future, a special pole-line rate of £1 per annum shall be payable. Rural-line service will be furnished on a five, six, seven, nine, and ten-party basis and will be available only to persons residing beyond- the base-rate area. These lines will be known as "multi-party lines." Subject to certain conditions the annual rental for a rural-line station will be determined by multiplying the subscriber's pole-line distance from the exchange by the relative mileage rate and adding the service rate applicable to the class of exchange to which the station is connected. At No. 2 and No. 3 class exchanges the service rate in respect of each rural-line station will be &2 per annum; and at No. 4 class exchanges, 10s per annum. The mileage charges in respect of these multi-party lines will be computed on pole-line route measurement from the exchange, and separately for each circuit and for each party-line station, in accordance with the schedule hereunder: —Five-party line, per station, per J-mile or fraction thereof, 4s per annum; six-party, 3s 4d per annum; seven-party, 2s 10d per „annum; eightparty, 23 6d per annum; nine-party, 2s 3d per annum; ten-party, 2s per annum.

Business. Residence. £ s. d. £■ I s - d. No. 1 Class .. 15 0 0 8 10 0 No. 2 Class .. 11 0 0 7 10 0 No. 3 Class .. 10 0 0 rf 0 0 No. 4 Class .. 8 0 0 6 0 0 Two-Party Line. No. 1 Class .. 10 0 0 7 0 0 No. 2 Class 8 0 0 6 0 0 No. 3 Class .. 7 0 0 5 10 0 No. 4 Class 6 0 0 4 10 0 Four--Party Line. No. 1 Class — 6 0 0 No. 2 Class 7 0 0 5 0 0 No. 3 Class 6 0 0 4 10 0 No. 4 Class .. 5 0 0 3 10 0