TELEPHONE SPECIAL CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 18394, 1 October 1923, Page 6

TELEPHONE SPECIAL CHARGES

ENGINEER EXPLAINS.

AUXILIARY APPARATUS,

The following' letter has been received by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce from Mr R. D. Yeitch, district telegraph engineer:— In response io a request made by tho president and rice-president, I desire to indicate for the information ot your council the reasons that have led this department to institute special charges for the maintenance of certain equipment at telephone subscribers’ premises. Experience lias shown conclusively that auxiliary apparatus, such as switching and plugging devices in connection with t&lcphones, bells, etc., placed on subscribers’ desks, is more liable to develop faults than D the telephone apparatiisritself. Ibis ' a partly due to the inherent liability to fault of tho auxiliary apparatus, and partly to its occasional mishandling by the subscriber. The same condition applies with particular reference to desk telephones, which are subject to various classes of faults unknown to telephones of the wall type. Not only is the desk tclophcfiS’ itself more intricate in design and construction, but it is found that faults aro developed and damage caused by papers, books, and other impedimenta being placed on or about tho telephones and equipment, causing subsequent trouble and temporary loss of service. Tho removal of faults from special apparatus constitutes a considerable portion of tho general fault work of tho exchange. It has been suggested that the general rates should have been so as to cover the special cost of maintaining such apparatus; but it is not considered by the department to bo equitable to spread the extra cost over those subscribers who do not possess or use such apparatus. It has also been thought expedient to establish a uniform installation charge for installing auxiliary apparatus,_ the object being to overcome the difficulties that previously arose whore tho estimate given for such work had been found to have been exceeded.

It is with great reluctance that I have, had to oppose the formation of party lines at the Dunedin exchange; but tho congestion of traffic on each operator’s position had so increased tho operating difficulties that I was compelled about four and a-half years ago to recommend) to the chief telegraph engineer that no further party lines should bo agreed to until the automatic system was established. This congestion of traffic is due to various unavoidable causes, and will become more accentuated as time goes on, particularly during the preparatory work incidental to tho open, mg of the proposed exhibition, and must reflect itself detrimentally on the efficiency of tho service given to subscribers.

I shall be glad at all times to furnish any information to your council in respect to the operation of the telephone system or of the policy governing tho same.

REPLY FROM THE CHAMBER,

At a. subsequent meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce Executive it was resolved—“ That while an increase in the telephone rates may have been justified, the small additions for extra equipment, such as table telephones and switching apparatus, are felt by subscribers to bo most irritating, and, in tho opinion of the executive, it would have been much better if an inclusive charge had been made.”