PHONE SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 20204, 15 June 1927, Page 6

PHONE SERVICE

EXTENSION DESIRED GORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTS SUBSCRIBERS’ OPINION TO BE SOUGHT At last nights’ meeting of the. Gore Chamber of Commerce the question of a continuous telephone service for the town was again raised by the receipt of the following letter from the Postmaster—“ln reference to the procedure to be followed to ascertain the desires of the subscribers to the Gore Telephone Exchange regarding the alteration of hours of attendance from 6 a.m. to midnight to that of continuous attendance, I am directed to advise you that the department prefers that any move in the matter of having the hours of attendance so altered should come from the subscribers. The annual telephone rentals payable for continuous service would be as follows—Within the base rate area: Individual line, business £lO, residence £7; two party, business £7, residence £5 10/-; three party, business £6 10/-, residence £5;. four party, business £6, residence £4.” The Postmaster (Mr J. J. McGregor) in response to a question from Mr A. L. Dolamore (chairman), said there were 549 telephones in Gore, comprised of 207 business installations and 342 residential. If the continuous service were decided upon it would mean that two extra assistants would be required, at an average salary of £l2O. Mr Dolamore said that the extra revenue which the department would receive would amount to £756. “It seems,” he said, “as if the Post and Telegraph Department has the better end of the stick. The effect will be that the 207 persons with business ’phones will be penalised to the extent of £2 per annum. What benefit will they receive? I don’t think anyone transacts busines between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. The only benefit will be in the case of fire or an urgent call for a doctor. My own opinion is that the department is asking too much for the convenience.” Mr McGregor said a petition would have to be signed by 75 per cent, of the subscribers, business and residential proportionately. Mr J. Brownlie: I don’t feel like supporting the move. It will be hard on the business people. Mr L. Hawk said there was not another town the size of Gore in New Zealand which did not have a continuous service. If the scheme was tried in Gore the small extra payment would not be grudged. Mr A. S. Fleming: We have heard a lot lately about placing Gore on the map. Gore prides itself on being the most progressive inland town in the South Island, but when it comes to placing it on a footing with other towns in regard to its telephone service, the residents have to climb down. Had we had the continuous service earlier, we would have thought nothing of the extra charge now. I dislike, being a resident of Gore, leaving an opening for people to point a finger and say ‘You have not even a continuous telephone service.” We have a service which is only 50 per cent, efficient. The simplest way out of the difficulty is to send out a voting paper to subscribers. On the suggestion of Mr Fleming it was decided to prepare a voting paper to be sent out to each subscriber, Messrs Fleming, McGregor and Aitken being detailed to draw up the form.