The Telephone Exchange. DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 134, 8 June 1883, Page 3

The Telephone Exchange. DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

The doputution appointed at tho rocont mooting of HubHoribern to the Tolophono Exohiingo waited on the Hon. Mr. pick, CommiHHionor of Telegraphs, by appointment, at noon to-day. Tho deputation consisted of Mr. J. E. Nathan (Chairman), Mr. J. B. Haroourt (Chairman of tho Chamber of Commerce), Mr. W. F. Wheelor ((J.S.S. Co.), Mr. Gillon (I'ronn Association), Mr. C. E. Zohrab (Zohrab, Nowman and Co.), Mr. G. S. Graham (Colonial Insnranco Co.), and Mr. T. K. Macdonald. Mr. Nathan said that as tho Government had recently issued a circular proposing cortain alterations in the telephonic sorvico, the snbscribers doomed thin an opportune timo to urgo upon tho Govornmont tho desirability of further modifications calculated largely to incroase tho usofulnoss of the telephone. Thoro wero three points in which this oould be dono. Tho first wua by extending tho radius within whioh conneotion would bo mado at the minimum ohargo from half a mile to a mile. Tho second was that the Exchange should bo open all night, instead of only to 5 o'olook as now, or to 2 a.m. as proposod. Tho third point was that tho charge for the first year should bo rcdncod to new subscribers. This was, howovor, evon of lets importance than the two first matters) but if these wore granted, and a reduction of rato mado, no doabt the number of subscribers would bo lurcoly inoroasod, and tho Government would roally mako moro than at the present rate. Of oourso thoy did not ask for any reduction to the present subscribers. Thoy had agrood to pay tho .£l7 10h, and woro quito willing to do it : but if tho points ho mentioned were conceded, thoy would bonofit by the inoreasod facilities afforded. The Government, ho thought, in a matter like this, should not expcot to make a largo profit, but should bo content with a fair margin above cost. The Hon. Mr. Dick said some very exaggerated keas seemed to prevail as to tho charges made elsewhere. The New Zealand rates wore not really high in comparison, and of course the experiment was a new one here. In London, Liverpool, and other large English townß, the telephone was not open all night, and the subscription was £20 a year. In Molbourne it was £16. In Tasmania JJIO, In Now South Woks tho charge was £5 a-year for maintenance, bnt the subscribers hod to buy the instruments at a cost of about £9 and to keep them in ropair at their own expenie. The cost of wire, poles, Ac, for long distanoes was very large. To koep open all night would involve three relays of oporatora in the exchanges. Mr. Zohrab pointed out that the New South Wales oharge was less than the New Zealand one for the first year, and that the instruments . i beoame the property, of the subscribers, ¦"*¦ whilo hore they remained the property of tho Government. The Hon. Mr. Diok admitted that this was so, but still the Government was not making suoh a good thing of tho tolophono an was imagined. Tho sorvioo was for a special class and the Government oould not afford to risk any loss in it. A conversational dis6ussion of varions points followed, in whioh most of the members of tho deputation took part. ; Mr. Macdonald urged that the telephone waa like the penny post, the inoreasod use would more than make up for any reduction in oharge. Mr. Zohrab pointed ont that with the prosont restricted facilities and high rates many lUbaoribors would probably retiro at the end of tho year. Mr. Graham urged tho necessity of a reduction of charge and oxtonsion of hours, so as to bring the telephone within roach of a large .class of now subscribers, and Mr. Maodonald asked whether tho Government would bo preparod to givo tho inoreasod facilitfos (Wired if a sufficient number of new subsoribors at a reduced rate were guaranteed bo as to cover the additional cost in eaoh town P Mr. Dick said he waa very anxious to inoreaao tho usefulness of the service, and to afford every reasonable faoility and encouragement he oould to extend it. The remarks mode by the gentlemen who had spokon doservod, and would reoeivo, tho fullest consideration. Ho would woigh their representations carofully, and wonld go into figures to see whether anything could be dono to meet their views, and he would oommunioato the result to them. The deputation then thanked Mr. Diok and withdrew.