Telephone Charges

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 16 September 1922, Page 4

Telephone Charges

anomalies to be removed. ADOPTION OF THE ZONE SYSTEM POSTAL CHARGES UNDER CONSIDERATION. (Special to “Tribune.”) Wallington, Sept. 15. • portant statements concern mg the telephone system more o less vague references to the propose, revision of the scale of charges wa made by the Postmaster-General in th House. Refeiences were Ijeing mad to the installation of automatic sys terns, and in some quarters doubt wa being raised as to the success of auto matic telephones. He could state po«i tively that automatic telephones wer completely satisfactory. Develnpmen of the telephone system generally ha< been urged by some members. H could assure the House that everythin] possible was being don*» in that con nection. Last year the sum of £6OO. 000 had been spent on the telephom system, pie vote in that direction had been increasing each year. Deval opment In the, cities must keep pace as far as possible, with the demands and it would be impracticable to ceasi work in the city and concentrate or countrv districts. It was not intends to make any reduction in the tele phone charges, but it would be neces sary to readjust the charges and re move some of the anomalies that wen existing today. The charges shoult be commensurate with the use. anc with the facilities provided. The mem her for Wellington Suburbs had drnwr attention to the high charges for th< telephone in Newtown, Island Bav Lvall Bay and Seatown districts. Th< charge was in the vicinity of £23 pei year, while people in the city pair only £7 10s. The eone system was in. tended to do away with that anomaly They wanted to encourage the peopb to go and live further out from the cities. There were also anomalies w far as toll charged were concerned, and they must be removed. At present there was a pertain charge up to 3C miles, but if a* subscriber went an inch or two over 30 miles he was charged up to 40 miles. That was an anomah that must he overcome. Certain pro posals had been considered and wner opportunity arrived the revised x sche dule would be nlaced before Cabinet. A Member; This session? The Postmaster-General: Tt is not likely. I am afraid that Cabinet will be too busy. The whole question ot postal charges was under consideration, and he wanted to make one job of it. Tn several directions a more equitable system was needed. There wmdd be no increase in postal charges. The aim of the Government was to reduce the cost of the service.