Best System For Pensioners’ Phones

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30231, 9 September 1963, Page 12

Best System For Pensioners’ Phones

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 8. A coin box telephone in each block of pensioner flats would best meet pensioner requirements, the Postmaster-General (Mr Kinsella) has told Miss M. B. Howard, M.P. for Sydenham, who recently asked him to look into the matter of installing telephones for pensioner tenants.

Mr Kinsella said in a letter to Miss Howard that the Post Office endeavoured to install public telephones so that users in vrban areas would have 'ess than a quarter of a mile to travel. Pensioners’ flats were taken into account when placing public telephones, but the Post Office was not in a position generally to install them in all areas set

aside for pensioners’ flats where they would not be readily available to other nearby residents. Public telephones had been installed in the Sydenham electorate to serve the Christchurch City Council’s pensioners’ flats in Carey street, Andrews Crescent, and Willard street, and the State pensioner flats in Milton street. It was proposed to put one in Manhire street about 100 yards from the Mac Gibbon place flats, he said.

But a telephone in each block would best meet the tenants’ needs, said Mr Kinsella. by providing subscribers’ coin box telephones. “With this type of installation the controlling authority leases a telephone.” he said, “and it is available to all tenants who may receive inward calls, and make local calls free of charge, and pay for toll calls and telegrams by inserting the required money in the coin box provided.”

Alternatively, pay station telephones could be installed in large blocks and tenants could make local and toll calls at appropriate charges. The Post Office was always willing to co-operate with the controlling authorities in providing either of these services. he told Hiss Howard. “I am sorry that our resources will not permit us to install public call office cabinets within every area containing blocks of pensioners’ flats,” said Mr Kinsella, “although we are making good progress in Christchurch in providing public call office facilities in the near vicinity of pensioners’ flats.”