TELEGRAPHIC RATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18355, 24 March 1934, Page 4

TELEGRAPHIC RATES

REDUCTION OP MINIMUM CHARGES ON .MILEAGE DA SIS ANNOUNCEMENT DV MINISTER Business men throughout the country will find much food for thought and discussion in the new scale of charges for telegrams announced by the PostmasterGeneral in a circular letter to all newspapers in the Dominion. The new scale represents a radical change from that winch has operated since, the inception of the telegraphic system in New. Zealand, for it contemplates a variable scale of charges for short-distance and long-distance deliveries, a reduction of the minimum charge t.o 6d for 12 words and an increase in the maximum to Is 3d for the standard telegram being a feature of the new proposals.

The Postmaster-General's circular iet ter is as under :

A new scale of rates and charges for telegrams is to become operative from April 3. 193 d. Briefly, the new rates and charges are : Local telegrams: 6d for 12 words.

Other than local telegrams: 9d to Is 3d (for 12 words) according to the distance between the office of 'origin and the office of destination. Additional words in excess of 12: Id pel' word.

Urgent telegrams: Ordinary rate plus 6d.

On ■Sundays and holidays: Ordinary week-day charges. Collect telegrams; Ordinary rate plus 3d.

Letter-telegrams: 6d to Is 3d for 2d words.

In explanation of the reasons underlying the change, the. Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, states that the alteration consists principally of an adjustment in rates designed on the one hand to enable a sum more in keeping with the cost of transmission to he collected from tlu- sender of the long-dis-tance telegram, and on the other hand to reduce the charge made to the sender of the shod-distance message. “MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM”

For some time past, the matter of introducing a more equitable system of charging for telegrams has been engaging tiie Minister s-attention. The present telegram charge of Is for I'd words, irrespective of the distance that the telegram has to be transmitted, has been open to the objection of being inequitable. With the new scale no longer will a telegram lodged lor delivery in the town of origin or for delivery m a town 20 to 30 miles away cost the sender just as much as one that has to lie transmitted from the North Cape to the Bluff. Of course, in order to conserve the revenue, any adjustment designed to lessen the charge for the short-distance telegram naturally necessitates a slight increase in the charge for the long-distance telegram, but the incidence of traffic is such that it-has been possible to limit tlie increase for long-distance messages to a maximum of 3d and to commence the scale for the shorter distance messages at as low a figure as 6d. Evidence lias not been wanting of the existence of a demand for a cheaper rate for local telegrams, i.c,, telegrams lodged for delivery from the office of origin, and tho adoption of a rate iis low as 6d will no doubt be welcomed. It represents at least a partial return to the 6d telegram. The charges for other than local telegrams will vary in Id steps from 9d to Is 3d, each Id step in the shorter distances taking the telegram from 15 to 20 miles further afield.

Under the new system, each telegraph office will have its own distinct scale of charges, and in that respect it will not differ materially from a railway station with its own distinct- scale of railway fares. REDUCTION FOR URGENT’S

A notable feature of the new scale is the heavy reduction that has been made m tin* charge for urgent telegrams which has hitherto been double that for ordinary telegrams. An urgent telegram takes precedence over all others, it involves a special transmission and speedy delivery at the place of destination, it is reasonable, therefore, that the urgent telegram should contribute to the 0 revenue a little more than the ordinary telegram. At the same time, it is desirable that the facility for sending an urgent telegram should not be denied the owner of even the slender purse. This has been arranged by reducing the charge for urgent telegrams from double rates to the ordinary rate plus 6d, irrespective of- the number of words or of the distance of transmission. This reduction, it is expected, will be the means ot bringing the urgent telegram facility within the reach of more people. It will be observed that the telegraph charges on Sundays and holidays which hitherto have, been double charges are now' reduced to single charges as on ordinary week days. This reduction of 50 per centum should afford a considerable measure of relief to those who have to send telegrams on Sundays and holidays.

The sole object in making the adjustment in telegraph charges, has been to devise,an equitable scale of rates more in keeping with what the average person considers he should pay for his telegram. I here lgts been no direct attempt at increasing the revenue, but no doubt increased business will follow the applying to telegrams of what may well be termed “popular charges.” “HITS GISBORNE HARD” ■BUSINESS MEN’S VIEW “On llie fain 1 of it, (he new scale of telegraphic charges will hit Gisborne ami similar roinmunit ies hard. Most »f the telegraphic business in Gisborne is done with Auckland and Wei'ingion, I understand, and practically iht* whole ot our telegraphic communication is with centres outside the Stilling radius. ’’ commented Mr F. It. Ball, president of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, when the effect of the new scale was demonstrated to him _his morning.

“It the effect of the new charges is to increase the cost of telegraphing between any of the main centres of population, some protest is likely to he forthcoming from other parts of the country. Whether it is too late mow to influence the PostmasterGeneral remains to be seen, but I will take the first opportunity of discussing latter with the •executive of the Chamber of Commerce, and of determining the official attitude of the ‘handier towards the new proposals,” Mr Bull added.