TELEPHONE SERVICES

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1935, Page 3

TELEPHONE SERVICES

CONSOLIDATION WANTED. TRIBUTES TO DEPARTMENT. When a remit on telephone services was under review by the North Auckland Associated Chambers of Commerce yesterday, Kawakawa, the movers, withdrew that portion which sought to impress upon the Government the necessity for the immediate reduction of telephone rentals. Representatives of other chambers, notably Messrs W. T. Surman and Wylie, said that close investigation of the position disclosed that telephone rentals in New Zealand ranked among the lowest in the world, and were as cheap as efficiency allowed. Mr Roberts, postmaster at Dargaville, produced figures to support this contention. The necessity for consolidation of small country exchanges, with a view to reducing subscribers’ costs, was recognised by the conference. “In some districts people on opposite sides of the road are on different exchanges,” said Mr T. J. V. Dunlop. Mr W. Berry (Kaitaia) said that with motor transport there was a tendency for the elimination of smaller centres, and it had been proved in America that towns now developed about sixty miles apart. Mr Roberts said the department was doing its utmost to foster consolidation where this was practicable, and where expense would not be too great. He advised country, representatives to discuss the matter with the district engineer when that official was next in their district.

If there is one Government Department of which we should be proud, it is the P. and T.,” commented Mr J. G. Barclay.