TELEPHONE CHARGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10687, 6 September 1920, Page 3

TELEPHONE CHARGES

LONG DISTANCE AND PARTY ’ LINES. ; ■• '

Tho following communication _ lias been received by Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., from the Postmaster-General (the Hon. ,J. G. Cates) regarding telephone charges: "In reference to the representations made to me by the deputation introduced by you on tho subject of telephone charges: In regard to tho charge for long-distance connections, the point raised by the depute-) tion lias recently been mot in a very tangible way by the reduction from 5s to 2s 6d on the charge for each quar-ter-mile beyond the first mile from the ''exchange. This will mean a reduction of 10s in tho charge for each mile beyond the first. In regard to party lines, these will b 6 subject to tho same reduction as in the case .of long-dis-tance excessive connections as inentioned above; but they have the additional advantage that the charge for 2s 6d for each quarter-mile beyond the .first mile will be shared between the various parties connected with a line. The use of party lines will to a large extent be obviated when the whole of tho Wellington exchange area is working under the automatic system, as a new scale of charges will then become practical. This will result in further advantages to the long-distance subscribers, as the charges will not then be based according to distance from the central exchange as at present.”