The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1923. TELEPHONE CHARGES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 31362, 18 January 1923, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1923. TELEPHONE CHARGES.

| In another column appears, tlo s’, aI c men! .of tlie Postmaster-Genera? (Hon. J. G. Coates) with regard to the proposed new rates of charges for telephones which it is intended to bring info force. In his defence of the new system the Minister cotrpares what he calls the absurdly low charges 'in New Zealand with those of other countries, particularly in reispect of business connectioins. In the Commonwealth of* Australia city business subscriber making (5000 effective calls per annum, would lie required to pay a ground rental of £5 per annum, plus a fee of IJd for each effective call, equivalent to a rental of £3l 5s per annum, while m j the Ini ted Kingdom a similar siil>scriber would have to pay a rental of £8 10s jier annum, plus a fee cl lid for each effective call, equivalent to a rental of £34 15s j>er annum. 11l other words, a city business subscriber making 6000 effective calls per annum now pays in New Zealand £9 10s pier annum, in Australia

£3l 5s per annum, and tin the United Kingdom £34 15s per annum. For this and other reasons stated, the Minister declares it is imperative# that the existing rating system should he completely revised to meet present-day conditions. The question subscribers will consider is whether the. use o{ the telephone is worth to them the sum to be demanded. The telephone has come t.o be considered as essential to most busine-s concerns, but there is not much sentiment in commerce. What is the telephone worth, will be asked, but it is more difficult- to answer. One deal lost might mean a sufficient sum to more than pay for tile cost of a telephone for many years. Private subscribers will relish any reduction, and the Department, ao doubt, ex-

pects that an unc.pease in the mini

her of residential connections will more than compensate for the num-

ber of small business people who will feel inclined to discontinue. Telephones must bo considered as a business proposition, and the Department must bo made to pay its wav. Ilf )R DUG H F< lOTP AT H St The schedule if proposed footpath taming adopted by the Bonuigr. Council was no doubt carefully rear» by many residents, and it will be received with feelings of general satisfaction. [lie Murks Committee is undoubtedly alive to the importance

} of using as much tar as possible -m j our roads and footpaths, ajid in this j connection, the Council seems preparI oil to give it plenty of scope. It is i to he hoped that the day is not far | distant when the outlying portions ; of the Borough will have no cause | for complaint. There arc some m ; Pafiatua who pay rates, ~,, JV w h<> have- not yet a properly forrrsal \iVtot - i path to their premises. Of oonrsi-, i the key to the position is finance. The Council os no doubt doing its best in the circumstances, but it lanj not bo exported to provide new coni’ strmtion work out of its ordinary re!vi uu< . A solution of the difficulty i could he found in a lon'll, lint we do j re!, think that the ratepayers are at 1 present prepared to sanction the raisj ing of money for constructing footI paths. Tarring and sanding is not ncr-v construction work, hut a nice - | sure necessary to preserve the life of j our footpaths anil do away with the waste of money and labour in <4 ij>pi. g the footpaths. 4Ve suggest * > the i embers of the Works Ooniniitt<s> that they make a tour of anspcci tit*ii during rain, and tliey would ! find many holes in the footpaths even i.i the main street.