WAIKARI TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21239, 10 August 1934, Page 23

WAIKARI TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

•10 TH» EDITOB 0» IKB PT'.JCaS. Sir,—The writer some time ago went into the question cf Sunday and holiday hours for the Waikari telephone exchange and was informed by the authorities in Christchurch that an additional 5s per annum per subscribei would not pay the cost of the extra hours. Lately a petition has been signed by the subscribers each guaranteeing an additional 5s Per annum if the exchange opened for Sunday and holiday hours. This has been granted, but the 5s per subscriber goes as clear profit to the department, for I am told the clerk in attendance for the extra time gets no pay, but only additional time off during the week. It seems we've been bluffed again.—Yours, etc., SUBSCRIBER. August 3, 1934. [This letter was referred to the Chiel Postmaster at Christchurch who stated that he did not make any statement to the effect that an additional Ave shillings per annum for each subscriber would not pay the cost of the extra hours. He added that the Sunday and holiday hours of attendance at the Waikari exchange had recently been extended as a result of a petition signed by three-quarters of the sub> scribers. These persons agreed to the usual condition under which an additional rental of Ave shillings per annum for each subscriber is charged for the extra attendance. "The additional five shillings does not 'go as clear profit' to the department," he concluded, "because it is required to cover items of expenditure, including time oft (the equivalent of overtime), as well as the additional running and maintenance cosis.l