TELEPHONE CALLS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1934, Page 7

TELEPHONE CALLS

new hates APPROVED

Questioned to-day regarding the publie response to the recently instituted cheap rates for tolls between the hours of U p.m. and 6 a.in. the postmaster stated that the satisfaction with which the cheap rates, had 'been hailed by telephone users had been fully borne out by results.

Already the success of the. innovation was assured. Disregarding the tig* ' urcs of the smaller exchanges, and tak- > ing the returns of the twenty principal exchanges only, the number of cabs ■i for one week between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. had increased by 105 per 'cent, compar,ed with the week prior to the intro- ! daction of the reduced rate.

Considering that the new service had been iin operation for a period of only seven dioys, and that thousands of prospective users had not yet hacl occasion to test its suitability as a means •of communicating with distant friends, the response had exceeded expectations. Later on, ia s is became more widely known that the highest charge for a three minute call made between any two (places in the same Island was °nly Is, and between two places in either Island only Is 6d, it could be expected thaf regular weekly toll talks after 11 p.m. would take the place of m a ny of the “ good intentions to write” that so often fail to materialise.