HUTT TELEPHONE RATES.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 6

HUTT TELEPHONE RATES.

Mr. Walter Nash, MJ?., speaking in the House of Representatives last week referred to the injustice of the telephone charges in the Hutt electorate. A minimum subscription to Hutt residents for connection with Wellington Exchange waa £32 "per. annum, -whilst the service of a. like nature coukl be obtained in Auckland for £9/10/-. A resident of Onehunga desiring to communicate with Northeote or Birltenhead could obtain an installation foT this price. There were probably 80 to 100 residents of Petone and Lower Hutt who were paying from £30 to £50 according to; fcheir distance from the Wellington ; Exchange for connection with Wellington,

Mr. jSTash mentioned that the rates should be reduced, at the earliest polsible moment. The Teason that there had not been more agitation for a reduction of these charges was that the Postal Department had proposed to establish an automatic eyerhange at Lower Hutt and at the same time give an alternative service to those who wanted to ' connect with Wellington. The charge for these services covering connection wrth subsribers to the HuttExhange and klso connection with Wellington would be something between £18 to £20 per annum and he urged the Minister at the earliest possible moment to refer to having the present charges I reduced until the installation of the new Exchange.