PALMERSTON NORTH TELEPHONES TOTAL MORE THAN 2500

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6850, 4 March 1929, Page 6

PALMERSTON NORTH TELEPHONES TOTAL MORE THAN 2500

Growth of Exchange

TOWN FIRST OBTAINED SERVICE IN AUGUST, 1592

As an essential item in our modern business and social lifOj there can be no gainsaying the part played by the telephone." As far as Palmerston North is concerned its citizens commenced to CDjoy the conveniences made possible by Dr. Bell’s invention on August 5, 1892, when the town exchange was first opened. Through the courtesy of Mr. A. Dawson, Chief Postmaster, a reporter has been able to gather some facts dealing with the history of the Palmerston North telephone exchange. While the actual number of subscribers at the opening day is not available, it is on record that at March 31, 1593 the names of 71 Palmerstonians were listed as telephono users.

On the opening of the exchange there was quite an amount of prejudice against the innovation, which at first limited itself to business premises. While business men readily recognised the utility of the invention, which meant in some cases at least the saving of one clerk’s wages, it was years beforo a ’phone was regarded as a necessity in a private residence. This is substantiated by the official figures, which disclose that in March 1898, the subscribers numbered but 91. Paradoxically, it may be mentioned, that number one in the first directory was the private residence of the late Mr. A. Southey-Baker, at Awapuni. With the onward march of the town, the telephone service grew and in March, 1913, subscribers numbered 760, between this date and 1918, the thousand mark was passed. Up till November 12, 1922, the instruments in use were of the manual typo, necessitating the subscribers ringing the exchange and asking an attendant for the connection desired, but on the date mentioned, the present automatic system -was switched over. Shortly after the change over, subscribers numbered 1766, since then connections have proceeded apace and at the present time the figure is 2,595. The man in the street often quotes royal commissions and economists in support of his contention that a pound will nowadays purchase not a fraction of what it would. If a telephone user, he may find solaco in the fact that this public service has not increased in cost in any proportion to the benefits conferred. While the minimum annual rental for a service was £5 and the exchange was open only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 1892, nowadays a business phone may be had for £ll a year, with the exchange open for 24 hours. A residential 'phono costs but £2 10s moro than at tho innovation of the service. It was 1896 before tho hours of service were extended to 8 a.m. j;o 10 p.m. In 1902 ,the closing hour was midnight and the continuous service commenced just before Christmas, 1907. With the present classification of subscribers into business and residential, it is interesting to note that of the former there are 911 individual lines and 49 party lines, -while residential ’phones include 1249 individual lines and 389 on party lines. During tho quarter ended Decembor, 1928, 98 new subscribers were added, While 20 connections w-ere relinquished.