SUBURBAN 'PHONES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 8

SUBURBAN 'PHONES

EFFECT OF INCREASED CHARGES.

The effect of the present zoning system in placing heavy burdens on suburban users of telephones was placed before the Postmaster-General (Hon. IV G. Coates) by a deputation, introduced by Mr. B, A. Wright, M.P., from the Eastern Suburbs' League. Mr. T. H. Donovan said the requests of the league were: — (1) That all charges should be taken as radiating from Kilbirnie Post Office; (2) that the regulations should be amended so as to have each district charged. from the nearest exchange; (3) that the charge for labour and material in installation beyond the four-mile limit should be placed' on the general fund and not on the individual subscriber. Mr. Donovan said there were 480 subscribers -in the Eastern .Suburbs and 300 waiting. They were penalised to' the extent of £2 10s each on the party wires by the present system. The charges meant a. rise from £12 to £16 -os for the man who had a private telephone. On party wires tho increase was greater in proportion. The Minister said that the increases on the present system were not part of the Government policy, but a temporary expedient. Mr. Shrimpton. had gone abrond to obtain material for inaugurating the call system which- would give {Tent relief to suburban, users of the tele-' rtlone. In the meantime, however, the Department must h&ve tho money. The Department said it might be three years before the call system was completed, but he hoped it would-be earlier. He would ask the Department to go into the question of assessing charges from a centre nearer than Thorndon, and also the charge for labour and material, and the division of-party-wire subscriptions.