PHONE EXTENSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 3

PHONE EXTENSIONS

COSTING A iIILSQH A YEAR DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT PARISH PUMP WORKED OVERTIME. [From Ouh Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 14. The handle of the parish pump was worked vigorously by many members this evening when the Post and Telegraph Department vote was being discussed. Some eulogistic references were made to the services of the Post and Telegraph employees generally, for which Mr Coates expressed thanks and great gladness, as praise for public servants was such a rarity. Various members made requests for improved facilities until it appeared as if every city, town, and hamlet in Now Zealand wanted something more in the way of telephones and offices. the slot automatic, telephones, Mr Coates, who was in charge of the Estimates, said they sometimes failed to give entire satisfaction, but tiie truth was they often went wrong through rough handling. For some years past the department nad been rather conservative in regard to public slot telephones, but was now extending that branch of the service.

“ I hope this extension will not lead to any gross misuse of our language,” said Mr Ooates, who went on to toll the House in. his ongonuous way something which sounded rather like a departmental secret. “ The slot telephones do not actually pay,” ho said, answering a question put by Mr Sullivan (Avon). “We can call the slot ’phones a ‘ pilot ’ really. You see the people use the slot 'phone and finally they get sick of it, but by this time they cannot do without the ’phone, so ihev say, ‘ I’ll got one of my own.’ ” Mr Coates reminded members that installations of telephones depended upon the amount of money available. They must remember that the department was spending a million a year in extending ’phone services. Mr M‘Combs: Should extension not bo controlled by the business offerinor P Mr Coates said the work of doing away with worn-out switchboards and installing the automatic was not the work of a moment. The programme provided for the expenditure of a million a year, the telephonic side alone running to £900,000. It was a huge expenditure for a small country like this. The Minister estimated _ that it would take one and a-half millions to immediately dispose of the applications for new ’phones, but a steady expenditure of a million would soon overtake and then keep pace with the requirements. The telephone was a good business service, which paid interest and sinking fund on capital. A plea for attention to the country districts was made by Mr Langstone, who commented on the heavy catalogue of requests ior more postal-faci-lities in largely-populated districts, “ where they have not far to walk, anyhow ” The member for Waimanno then added quite a dozen requests to the already long list.