TELEPHONED TELEGRAMS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 16

TELEPHONED TELEGRAMS

“No Outward Surcharge” No surcharge is being made by the Post Office far the telephoning of telegrams to addresses. After a report In Christchurch newspapers of a discussion by the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, the Chief Postmaster (Mr C. J. C. Simpson) has had inquiries from business firms about telegram charges. "So that any misunderstanding as a result of this publicity may be cleared up, I wish to make it clear that no charge is being made by the Post Office for telephoning a telegram to an addressee,” said Mr Simpson. The Manufacturers' Association council decided to take up the matter of charges with the Postmaster-General (Mr Kinsella), and one member wrote to the council saying that he had instructed his telephonists not to accept telephoned telegrams as a protest against a surcharge. "The surcharge of 3d applies only to telegrams telephoned to the Post Office for onward transmission,’’ said Mr Simpson yesterday. “This surcharge has been in force since September 1 last year, and considerable newspaper publicity was given to the matter at the time." Hie telephoning of telegrams to the Post Office was costly and there was difficulty in getting the necessary equipment and staff, he said. The Post Office recognised there was a saving when messages were telephoned to addressees instead of being delivered by hand. “Reasonable" "But because the provision of telegraph equipment and particularly the phonogram equipment for receiving tele-phoned-in. telegrams is expensive, it seems reasonable that the telegraph should bear Its share of providing, by way of increased charges, for some of our capital needs “Our view was. rather than place an increased charge of 3d a telegram on an over-all basis, it was more reasonable to place the surcharge only on that segment of the operation where the handling costs are heavy,” said Mr Simpson.

"Progressively we shall be introducing the latest facilities for telephoning In telegrams art most major centres throughout the country. However, in spite of the cost we are being faced with we do not charge for telegrams being telephoned to addressees. nor do we intend to bring in such a charge in the future."'