TELEPHONE CHARGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 4

TELEPHONE CHARGES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Another bomb from this progressive Government discharged on a long huiforing public 1 This suggested increase in the telephone animal rental is monstrous. Take my case. I rim a small business, and probably use the telephone only six times in a Meek, anl yet the Government would charge me the same rental ns a firm that may bo using the telephone hundreds of times during the week. If the telephone branch of the Post and Telegraph Department is not paying (and it should, by the rental it is at present, charging) lot there bo mi investigation, find out where the leakage is. and apply the remedy. No, just one idea -increase the rate. I have been a consistent voter for, aud upholder of, the Reform Government for over 20 years. If. however, this iniquitous rate is enforced, I shall seriously consider supporting a Labour candidate. 1 am quite sure if a Labour Government were in office it would show much better business ability than those at present holding the reins of power. Jf tin’s suggested increase is enforced, I, for one—and I have no doubt many others —will cut the telephone out. Therefore the suggested increase will defeat the end the department, has in view, and a greater loss will he shown at the end of the half-year than is 'now being shown.—-I am, etc., Business Man.

Bin, —1 rend with interest Iho report of the system which it. is proposed to introduce with regard to tho payment of ielephone, charges. If, in an extraordinary tiling that, while merchants nil the world over have surplus stocks and have had difficulty in disposing of these .slocks, telephone instruments eeern to be unobtainable. The writer applied for a. telephone for his private house, and was told that it would he impossible to get this for months, but he could have it if he would pay for it. at business rales, wne cannot understand why this should be, and the department must he behind thh times or else it is deliberately getting the extra revenue hy putting people off so that it will get. the increased rates for the business telephone. It. would tie interesting to get tho department to make some pronouncement on this matter. Mo sntis’faction can lie got, by personal application to any of tlie olticials. —I am, etc., 000 ■-a unary 19.