HUTT 'PHONES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 148, 19 December 1929, Page 11

HUTT 'PHONES

MINISTER'S STATEMENT

CITY AND LOCAL SYSTEMS

AUCKLAND CHARGES

A statement in reply to the criticism of tho Posjt and Telegraph Department in connection with tho proposed altera-tion-of the Lower Hutt telephone exchange- system was issued by the Post-master-General- (the Eight Hon. Sir JoSeph Ward) to-day.

"It has been clearly stated on more than" one occasion," said tho Minister, "that it is proposed to arrange for an alteration of tho": present system. The needs of tho district arc well-known to my Department; and no avoidablo delay in tho inauguration of the new system will occur.

"It is intended to provide for the establishment of a dual exchange system of tho automatic typo under which subscribers will be- able to secure service in accordance with their individual requirements, either (a) local service to all subscribers in the Lower Hutt area; or (b) general inter-communication with Wellington subscribers in addition to Lower Hutt local subscribers.

For service of type (a), the rentals will remain as at present with a continuance of toll charges for communications to Wellington and elsewhere; while for type (b) the rentals will be those.applicable to the Welington base-rate area, plus a special load-ing-rate, on the- same basis as is applied to subscribers to the Auckland exchange who are resident in One-

lumga or Takapuna.

"It is. not possible at this stage to state definitely what loading-rate will require to be applied. However, no fear need be-entertained that the rate will bo designed to do other than provide a reasonable return on the outlay involved; The actual figuro must necessarily be dependent to a great extent on tho cost of the. apparatus, and cannot be. determined until tho tender prices are known. Tenders were invited in April last. . Unfortunately, however, New Zealand's remoteness from the centres of supply of telephone equipment involves delay in tho receipt of tenders and the subsequent receipt of equipment, and precludes an immediate settlemient of the question. Full information will be afforded at the earliest possible moment. DISTRICT NEEDS RECOGNISED. "In view of the fact that the re-, quirements of tho district have been fully expressed both by correspondence and by deputation, and having regard to the fact that the requirements are self-ovident, I am at a loss to understand the' criticism of the Department's failure to consult the' Lower Hutt and Petono Chambers of Commerce on the subject, or to approach the subscribers themselves for the purpose of ascertaining their wishes. Untill the Department is in a position to quote the actual charges and to afford subscribers whatever class of service they desire, there does not appear to be any necessity for such action.

"In regard to,the charges applicable to calls to Wellington from public call offices (coiu-in-the-slot) as compared with the charge for toll calls to Wellington from Lower Hutt exchange subscribers when speaking from their own telephones: this question has previously been fully answered through the Press; and I do not propose to enter into any further controversy on tho point. Suffice it to say that the difference in charge cannot well be avoided at present."

Tho charges made by the Post and Telegraph Department for private telephones in the Onehunga and Takapun'a districts are £8 10s per annum, and for business telephones £15 per annum (the standard city fates), plus £1 for the additional mileage, making the actual rates £9 10s and £16. Subscribers .in both, these boroughs—distinct from the city—are connected directly with "the Auckland City exchange, and therefore pay no toll charges when'making calls to the city area or other Auckland suburbs.

_ Onehunga is approximately the same distance from Auckland as Lower Hutt from Wellington, i.e., about seven miles. It . has been stated that the Miramar sub-exchange (part of the Wellington City system) is as far as the new Hutt Valley exchange will be. That is not so: the Miramar exchange, via Constable street, is roughly four and a half miles from the G.p!o.