NEW SYSTEM OF TOLL CALLS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21180, 2 June 1934, Page 13

NEW SYSTEM OF TOLL CALLS

APPROVAL OF CHAMBEIt OF COMMERCE "Since this extension of the toll facilities of the Dominion has been pressed for a long time by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce I am naturally very pleased that the PostmasterGeneral has at last adopted it," remarked Mr T. N. Gibbs, chairman of the postal committee of the chamber, when commenting yesterday on the announcement that the "person to person" system of making telephone toll calls was to be introduced by the Post and Telegraph Department. "I am quite sure that it will prove a very great convenience to business men, as well as to the general public," said Mr Gibbs. "The system has been in operation for some years in Australia and in uiscussing it with business men in Sydney and Melbourne recently it was obvious that a great deal of the inter-city telephone business there would not have been possible except for the definite assurance that no connexion would be made until the person required was available. "The extra charge in Australia is 3d for each 'person to person' call," added Mr Gibbs. "It is to be hoped that this will be the amount which will be charged in New Zealand." TELEGRAPH CHARGES DISCUSSION BY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE (I'HBSS ASSOCIATION* TEUSGK.UI.i WELLINGTON, June 1. Protests by several metropolitan and provincial Chambers of Commerce against the new telegraph charges as being unfair additional taxation cn business people were read at a meeting to-day of the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. Attention was drawn to the fact that while the Postmaster-General had repeatedly stated that the change had not been made for the purpose of obtaining more revenue, actually it meant extra taxation. It was stated that the commercial community was being required to pay higher telegraph rctes merely to enable the Government to cover up losses in other directions. The Post and Telegraph Department had to find a substantial sum of money to assist the Consolidated Fund, and there should be a proper investigation of the position. The executive eventually decided to accept the statement of the Post-master-General that the new charges would be reviewed after they had been in operation for six months. CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF lIAWERA "STAR" U'iIESS ASSOCIATION TULEOUAXJ. i HAWERA, June 1. The Ilawcra "Star" announces to-day a change in its proprietary, the business having been sold to the Hawera Star Publishing Co., Ltd.. a lcallvfonned private company. A shilling advertisement m h\j classified section of "The Press" will sell your goods. Try it. 12 words Is, three insertions 2s 6d.—6