TELEGRAPH RATES

Inangahua Times, 28 March 1934, Page 2

TELEGRAPH RATES

HEW CHABOEB. AMERICAN SYSTEM. '** (Per United Preea Ahb.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. ’ The charges in the rates for telegraph announced by the Post and Telegraph Department last week, have not been made with a direct object of increasing revenue, but the Postmaster General, Hon. Adam Hamilton, hopes that the adjustment of rates will encourage business and thereby improve the revenue position of his department. Hon. Hamilton told a reporter that it was' anticipated that with the new schedule of charges, revenue would remain approximately as at present until the public begin to appreciate the advantages of the system, then an expanding business could be expected, with a consequent improvement in returns. It was unjust to say, as some had done, that the new charges were heavier than the present ones, added Hon. Hamilton. The rates had been reduced for short distance telegram* for Sunday and holiday telegrams, and for urgent messages, and only two increases had been made on distance telegrams and on collect telegrams. The mi in idea behind the whole scheme was to contrive a more equitable scale of rates in an endeavour to make telegraphing more acceptable to the public as a method of doing business. The revenue from telegrams had not been altogether satisfactory, but it was no desire of the Department to improve its position by an all round increase in charges. The new schedule was based on the same principle as the toll telephone system on telephones. One paid for distance and time in sending telegrams, and one should pay for distance and length. The old system of charges was the same as the English system, and the new system conformed to the American one. It would remain to be seen which was the more suitable for this country.