TELEPHONES FOR SHIPS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19970, 3 July 1930, Page 6

TELEPHONES FOR SHIPS.

SERVICE FOR LYTTELTON.

HARBOUR BOARD ADOPTS SCHEME. * Following the necessary installations, telephonic communication direct from vessels lying at the Lyttelton wharves to the Christchurch exchanges will be available according to a decision reached by the Lyttelton Harbour Board at its meeting hold yesterday. A charge of 4s a day, with a minimum of Bs, will be made against a vessel using the service.

In making its report the Standing and Finance Committee stated that it had enquired into the matter following requests from oversea shipping companies and others. It was of the opinion that ships' telephone connexions on the wharves, connected with the public exchange, would be a port facility of considerable service. The instruments would be on board the vessels and the Board would pay the annual rental and charge the ships a rental.

The secretary (Mr C. H. Clibborn) read a letter from the PostmasterGeneral's Department stating that, as the were fixed by regulation, no reduction could, therefore, De made. The only way in which this could be managed was by the use of a party line. This, Mr Clibborn added, would not suit the shipping companies who wanted separate service.

The chairman (Mr H. Holland, M.P.) said the committee had jbcen desirous of bringing the port into line with others throughout the Dominion and thought such a convenience should be put in foroe to bring Lyttelton up with Wellington, and to this end it was desired to keeD the charges down as low as possible. Tf there was a small loss he thought this should be borne by the Board. As a matter of fact the whole of the cost would be borne by the shipping companies, for if they did not pay for it in one way they would in another.

The secretary stated the total loss would be approximately £lB2. The Board adopted the recommendation.