TELEPHONE CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 4

TELEPHONE CHARGES

SOUTH WELLINGTON'S CLAIM. A promise given to Newtown peoplfl some years ago that their telephone, charges would bo reduccd when a tele-"' phone exchange was established in their*' part of the city was mentioned in tha House of Representatives yesterday. Jlr.' G. Mitchell (Wellington South) reminded the Postmaster-General (Mr. Coates) that, a Newtown exchange was now ill, opera-' tion, and asked when the promised reliei trculd be given to the subscribers.

Mr Coates replied that, it would not! bo possible to.improve the arrangements' bo any great extent until Wellington had been fully equipped 'with tli«> autonmtio system. When that had been done, tlw' measure system, which required the uso of meters to record the number of calls,' would bo introduced.' But that would have to be postponed for twelve months' lit: least. Certain changes, were being, made now in connection with charges,; but they would not' give the Npwtown pcoplo all that, they desired. Tlio changes would give 'soi}j,c relief to pri' vate users as compared with large users". Mr. H. A. Wright Suburbs) remarked that a definite prouiiso. had boon given the Newtown people by, another Postmaster-General, 'j'liey had. been told that when the Newtown exchange was erected there, would be n considerable reduction in charges.

Mr. Coates said ho would keep tlio matter in mind. The promise had not < been exactly in the words used by tho member. It had been contingent on tho completion of the automatic system, and that was still in the future.