TELEGRAPH CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 21711, 4 May 1934, Page 12

TELEGRAPH CHARGES

TNE MINISTER CRITICISED 41 A MIST FOBLI6H STEP [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 4. • Strong criticism was made by mem# , bers of the council of the Canterbury; - Chamber of Commerce following tb»,' reading of a long letter from the Post-j master-General, in which the Ministem gave in considerable detail the reason*] which led to the decision to alter system of charging for- telegrams.;] “ Delicious ” and “ rather were the adjectives used to describe) the letter. It was asserted that thel Minister had condemned himself out om his own mouth of having taken a mostij foolish step. The council decided thati; a reply be sent by the Postal Commit-j tee. One member said if the Minister’*» proposal wa4 carried to a logical don 4 elusion a letter to Wellington wouldH cost a penny, one to Auckland 2d, to Sydney lOd, and to London 4s 2d. The Minister’s letter stated that long#; distance traffic came to the telegraph! solely because it could not be handled?; so cheaply by telephone, and a flat rotoi system of charging had the effect' oa depriving the telegraph branch ' ofi short-distance traffic, which was handle* at a lower cost. He asked whether iff was not reasonable to call _ upon traffic which used long-distance lines to yield a return a little more in keeping withfi what it cost to give the service. Iff the department by reducing the rate* could double the short-distance traffia it would go a long way towards plaw ing the telegraph branch on a, sounder basis. •