PUBLIC TELEPHONES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 27, 1 February 1923, Page 6

PUBLIC TELEPHONES

TO THS KDITOfi.

Si r) _Ig not time some improvement, is made in the penny-in-slot telephones, or are the constant users thereof to basubjected 'to the same inconven^ncs and annoyance, as is their lot at present? As one of many who is a constant'user every day, and yet uni 1 to afford the cost of having a te > io connected on to the honse, I, a: ,/J to give* publicity to my complaint.attention that is given by the atten to the public telephone user is not vi. it should 'be. If a number you require is engaged, you either get a continual buzzing in the ear, that you get tired waiting for fie return of your fee-, ot you get no response from the exchange, not even your penny. Furthermore, Sir, nine times out of ten you will be given a "wrong number. ' The following I will give-as an example: Last Thursday while in Newtown I desired to speak to a business house , in the city, awl the firit, telephone box I went to was out of order, no notice, to that effect being visible', and when attempting to use the same 'phone again to-day it was still out of order; and still no notice to users. Going to the second box, Home,quarter of a mile away, and giving my number, was put on to a house with a number completely the reverse to-the one I gave the attendant. ■I asked for- my number again, and still was given the reverse. If giving a number like 3322, would it bo'possible, Sir for anyone to misunderstand you and put you on to 2233? Finally, I got on to "Complaints," and at last got, the desired number after payment of the sum of sixpence. Is this sort of thing to go on incessantly?- Not only in Newtown, but in practically all the boxes, can ths average user of the public convenience' afford that every day? During the past month I cannot say I have succeeded in using the telephone; for le»s than twopence, and even threepence. I hope some improvement will be brought about that will benefit the public generally, ai»i that some better p«n than mine wilb take this matter no.—l am, etc., P . '. 'DISGUSTED 30th January.