THE TELEPHONE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 14

THE TELEPHONE.

AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE RECOMMENDED. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. TO COMMENCE AT WELLINGTON. Automatic telephones aro dealt with at great length in a document which was laid on the table o.f the House of Representatives yesterday by _ the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. B. H. Rhodes). This is the report of Mr. T. Buckley, Chief Electrician to the Post and Telegraph Department, who was detached by the then Postmaster-General , (Sir Joseph Ward) in March, 1911, to visit the United States, Great Britain, and Europe to inquire into matters relating to telephones (both manual and automatic), to systems of telegraphy, and to wireless telegraphy. Following is a synopsis of the recommendations containe'd in Mr. Buckley's report :— (1) That the- more extended use of tho telephone generally should bo promoted as far as possible. Tho development of tho telephone in centres of population in the Dominion, as compared with that iu many parts of tlie world, is low. (2) That? tho full automatic system of giving telephone service be adopted for Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. (3) That the full automatic system be adopted also for any exchanges at smaller, places that may be requiring new equipment—in all cases where, after a study of the conditions, it may be found that the operation and economic features and the general advantage to the public in respect of the character of the service given would justify it. (i) That the Western Electric Company, London, Messrs. Siemens Bros., London, who supply the Siemens-Halske system, and tho Automatic Electric Company, Chicago, who supply the Strowger system, bo invited to tender for a full automatic equipment for Wellington. (5) That studies be made of the" four largo cities to obtain .some idea of what may be the expected development in each—whether it is likely that it will Iμ general throughout an area or more congested in particular parts of the area, and whether any particular parts will be specially difficult and therefore expensive to reach.

(G) That the question of multi-office or satellite exchanges for the larger places be considered in their economic aspect, as compared with giving service from, say, two or three exchanges in the area. , i Scale of Rates. (7) That as development must to a large extent depend upon rates, the rate question, be considered after the development has been considered, so that if necessary a scale of rates may be drawn up that will promote development, be a reasonable charge for the area, available, and provide reasonably for interest and depreciation of the plant and apparatus. (8) That suitable appliances ba obtained for determining the effect upon speech of apparatus that must be introduced into telophone circuits, and for. enabling tho results that may be expected from combinations of circuits which introduce varied kinds and quantities of apparatus to be definitely known.

(9) That negotiations be opened with the representatives in the United States of the Wright and of the Morkrura typewriter telegraph , apparatus to. judge of their suitability for our conditions. These instruments are leased in the United States; they are not sold. (10) That quadruplo Baudet apparatus bo considered for use on tho main circuits of tho Department throughout the Dominion, and that two sets each for Auckland and Wellington be obtained for use over the circuits between those cities. Tho cost will be about .£I4OO for apparatus. (11) That accumulators bo installed for line batteries at the four large centres, and a few other places wherp Targe numbers of primary cells are now in use. This would Ik more economical than present methods, and would imhrove working considerably. . T (12) That the technical staff be increased, as may be necessary to give effect to the foregoing, and to copo with expected developments. The automatic system, Mr. Buckley states, would meet the requirements of this country satisfactorily, and would possibly permit of the extension of the area within which' the minimum residential rate might be charged. A saving of over .£2OOO a year may be expected at each of the four cities in'this Do;ninion, after allowing for interest, etc., on increased first cost of equipment. Later, as development takes place this may be expected to increase, and the first cost of connection to show corresponding reduction of maintenance in outside plant, because of- there being less to maintain. The system might be employed advantageously for exchanges ranging from about 500 subscribers. Night service would be available practically free of cost. . First Equipment for Wellington, In a report appended to that of Mr. Buckley, Mr. J. Orchiston (Chief Telegraph Engineer) states that the revised tariff and part}- line system which came into operation on January 1, 1012, led to a marked increase of applications for telephone connections. He agrees with Mr. Buckley that automatic telephones have proved their value and .should be installed ; n the Dominion. The four chief centres, he remarks, are all in need of a new outfit, but the need of Wellington is the most pressing,, and as it affords a suitable field for a close observation of the merits of the automatic system, he recommends that full automatic be decided upon for "Wellington, and that the firms referred to by Mr. Buckley be invited to tender for a suitable equipment. Mr. Orchiston further recommends that , inquiries should be made as to the advisability of obtaining automatic equipments for Hamilton, Mastcrton, Blenheim, and Oainarn.

Development studies of Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland sTiould be undertaken as soon as the engineering staff is sufficiently organised to copu with tho work. The alterations to the • existing line plant at Wellington, estimated at .£15,000, and the-necessary buildings, estimated at .£IO,OOO to ,£12,000, Mr. Orchiston states, will subsequently have to be provided for, whatever system is adopted. The revenue derived from the telephone-exchange sys-: terns of tho Dominion has increased from .£21,552 in 1895 to .£170,123 for last year. In addition to this, the revenue from toll communications, which is an adjunct of the exchange systems, was ,£1)1,811 for last, year, an increase of 19.28 per cent, over tho previous year. The income of tho Wellington Exchange is now. at the rate of about ,£20,000, and 'is increasing at some .£2OOO per annum. At tho present rate of increase the capacity of the switchboard now in use will "be reached within two years. If a new outfit is not provided by tho time the full capacity of tho board has been reached the Department will simply have to close down in so far as now business is concerned. As the manufacture and fitting -up of a new switchboard with its millions of connections involves many months of constant labour, thero is no timo to waste. Similar conditions apply to Auckland, and in a eomowhat lessor degree to Christchurch and Dunedin. It will therefore be necessary to order a plant for Wellington and Auckland this year, and for Christchurch and Uiinedin next year, otherwise the Department will be in the position of having to refuse new busine&t at those centres iu a couple of years or so.