TELEPHONE CALLS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1920, Page 5

TELEPHONE CALLS

THE NEW CHARGES. ANOTHER METHOD. FOR CITY SUBSCRIBERS. (Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Judging' by the questions put to the i'ostmaster-General in the House, country settlors feel that the increase in telephone charges, especially on party lines, will he a severe load upon them. Mr Coates, replying to one of the questions, stated that backblocks settlers are less affected by the increased telephone rentals than other subscribers for the following reasons: Such subscribers generally avail themselves of the party lines system whereby as many as six subscribers can combine on a party line at rates which are considerably below those charged for exclusive lines. The increased mileage charge complained of is divided amongst a number of persons forming a party, and in the case of a sixparty line the increased charge is lOd per quarter per mile with six parties on the line. The increased mileage charge commences to operate only at a distance of three miles from the exchange. Beyond this three-mile distance party line subscribers may as an alternative erect a line for themselves and no rental whatever is charged for this section. Materials for this pri-vately-erected section of the line may under the new backblocks’ telephone scheme he obtained from the Department as soon as supplies become available at cost price. i

Not satisfied with this reply, Mr McCallum again asked the Post-master-General to consider the matter, as the increased charges would cause some subscribers on the party lines to drop out, throwing a heavier burden on remaining users.

Mr Coates repeated that the cost to individuals ■would, he very small. He was obliged to get revenue to pay the 38 1-3 increase in wages, besides the big increases •in the cost of material. For insi ance, the simplest form of telephone formerly costing 50s now cost £6 or £7. He was prepared to admit that big city users of telephones got more than their share of benefit under the flat rate system, hut as soon as possible this would he changed to a method under which the charges could he made according to the number of calls.