REMARKABLE GROWTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23002, 3 October 1936, Page 23

REMARKABLE GROWTH

TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON. Oct. 2. “ The highest number of telephone subscribers ever recorded in the history of New Zealand was reached on September 30 with a total of 133,460,” stated the Postmastergeneral, Mr 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 influence 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, being 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 the predepression 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 Dominio.i,” 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 time is fourth with a density of over 10 telephones in use per 100 of the population. It is headed only by the United States of America, Canada, and Denmark.”