THE TELEPHONE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 2 October 1936, Page 5

THE TELEPHONE

NEW ZEALAND’S HIGH PUCE ’l RECOVERY FROM DEPRESSION YEARS (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The highest number of telephone subscribers ever recorded in the history of New Zealand was reached on 30th September, with a total-’’ of 133,460,” stated the PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. F. Jones, in an interview to-day. “The highly satisfactory growth in the telephone branch,” added the Minister, “is another indication of the steady progress of the Dominion out of the last economic depression, the in-.-fiuence of which on this branch of the Department’s business was to cause the loss of 10,385 subscribers, or approximately 8 per cent. The lowest total 122,470 was reached in July 1933.”

“How quickly and completely the telephone branch of the Department has recovered is proved by the fact that the highest point of pre-depres-sion years—l32,Bss in December■ 1930 —has now been passed, with 605 to spare.

“During the present year, the monthly increase in subscribers has averaged 645, but September was distinctive with 812 the greatest monthly net increase on record. “If the present progress is maintained, the Dominion” concluded the Postmaster-General “may yet soon improve upon the high position which it holds in telephonic use, in comparison with other countries in the world. New Zealand’s position at the .present l# , time is fourth, with a density of oyer 10 telephones in use per hundred of the population. It is headed only ,by. the United States of America, Can-*-/ ada, and Denmark.