TOLL TELEPHONE SERVICE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21341, 7 December 1934, Page 12

TOLL TELEPHONE SERVICE

- -■> - ( ONCiKA ILLATIONS AND A ItKIiIKST Appreciation of the: action of llie Post and Telegraph Department in making improvements in the toll telephone service was expressed by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by resolution passed at its meeting last evening. It was stated that as the chamber had so often in the past to ask the department to institute changes, it was particularly gratifying to be able to thank it for its enterprise on this occasion. At the same time it was decided to urge the department to institute a uniform flat rate for toll calls.

The postal commitlee's report, presented by Mr T. N. Gibbs, stated ■ lhat the present system of computing rates for telegrams was brought into force on April 3 last. The Post-master-General in his letter of June 8, replying to the protest of the chamber, stated that the new system was to be given a six months' trial, and that that period must run before an alteration could be made. The committee recommended that a letter be addressed to the Post-master-General, reminding him that the six months has now expired, and at the same time repeating the chamber's protest against the present system and requesting that the principle of a uniform flat rate for the Dominion be reverted to. Mr Gibbs said that it seemed right to push the chamber's protest further in the present circumstances, particularly in view of the recent lowering of toll charges in Great Britain. On the suggestion of Mr W. Machin, who drew attention to the recent substantial improvements in the toll service to the Dominion, Mr Gibbs proposed that the department should be thanked for making this reform. The motion was carried.

The retirement of Rabbi S. A. Goldstein, after 54 years of continuous service with the Auckland Hebrew Congregation, and the installation of his successor, the Rev. A. Astor, will be the occasion of a special service to be held in the Synagogue on Saturday, December 15. The ceremony will take place on the anniversary of Rabbi Goldstein's arrival in Auckland in 1880. The usual Sabbath morning service will be followed by a special service at which a presentation on behalf of the congregation will be made to the Rabbi by the president, Mr C. H. Moses, and a tablet recording the Rabbi's services will be unveiled. [Special psalms will be included in the service and the boys' choir will participate.