OVERSEAS CALLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23866, 21 July 1939, Page 11

OVERSEAS CALLS

BY THE RADIO TELEPHONE AN EXPANDING SERVICE The use of the radio telephone for communication between New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Continent of Europe showed a satisfactory degree of expansion during the 12 months ended June 30, the 368 i calls handled showing an increase of over 40 per cent., or 1065 conversations compared with the previous year. The calls to and from the United Kingdom were 288 in number. It is in the exchange of messages between New Zealanders and Australians that the overseas radio telephone service finds its greatest scope. The rate for calls to Australia was reduced in July, 1938, to 10s per minute, with a minimum of 30s. Public response to this reduction was a marked increase in the use of the facilities, a comparison of the total calls handled between these points for the cmarter ended June 30 in three successive years showing that the business has now almost doubled. The details are as follows: —

The radio telephone maintained its popularity as a means of communication for passengers on the trans-Tasman liner Awatea, the calls numbering 783 for the year.

1937. 1938. 1939. April .. . ,, 101 95 190 May .. . 100 100 249 June .. , 124 140 177 Totals . 325 335 616