TELEPHONE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1923, Page 4

TELEPHONE CHARGES.

PROPOSED INCREASES RESENTED. WHAT THE CHANGE BUSINESSMEN HARD HIT, -0; The increases proposed by the revised telephone charges as they affect New Plymouth business and residerttial subscribers are summarised in the -following table showing the charges under the present system and the Charges eontemplatwl, to quote the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. G. Coates) “at an early date’’:

The above rates are calculated on the lowest charges made, the two rates in connection with one-party business connections being for up to half a mile and up to One mile from the exchange respectively, the two-party business connection up to one mile, the one-party residential up to one mile, the twoparty residential up to one mile, and the four-party residential up to two miles. In the New Plymouth area ajt present charges are made on what is known as a minimum flat rate of £7. “Pretty hot, isn’t it?” said the manager of a New Plymouth firm of warehousemen when discussing the proposed increases with a Daily 'News reporter yesterday. “Now, we have two ’phones for which we pay £7 each .per year or £l4 altogether. . Under the new scheme it is going to cost us £26 a year, an increase of practically 100 per cent., whereas the residential ’phone charge is to be increased only from £7 to £B. This does not appear, to be fair, for though business people may use the ’phone oftener in a day. the epnversations are usually shorter. In the ease of a residential ’phone, however, it is not uncommon to have two people seated in an armchair at each end of the line and talking for an hour on end. I see that the Postmaster.-General estimates that an average residential subscriber uses the ’phone 1095 times a year, which works out at three times a day, Sundays included. 1 feel sure that there must be more calls a day than this. I consider my private ’phone gets average use, but I know it is used much mote than three times a day.

“These proposed telephone charges , really mean that we are not going to* get any real benefit from the reduced postal rates,” he continued. “The postal department is reducing the charge on one service and bumping it up on another!” “There’ll he a howl of protest about this, - ’ predicted another business man. “Why, the thing seems preposterous.” Similar views were expressed by other business men, whom the increased rates will particularly affect. Some even forecasted that smaller tradespeople would prefer to be without the telephone rather than pay an additional 85 .per cent, for the service.

DISMAY IN WELLINGTON. FEWER 'PHONES WILL BE USED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. The general opinion amongst business men in Wellington on the proposed changes in the telephone system seems to be one of dismay. Many firms now using, three or four telephones strongly expressed the. opinion that they much prefer to reduce the number of wires rather than pay increased charges. In some quarters the opinion is expressed that the best way to wipe off the departmental deficit was to reduce the charges and attract more customers. WILL PROPOSALS . SURVIVE ? PROTEST IN CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, Last Night. In regard to the increased telephone charges the general impression in business circles in Christchurch appears to be that the Government will be compelled to devise some alternative scheme, since the volume of protest that will be evoked by the Minister’s proposal will be so great as to compel their abandonment.

Present Proposed Per annum. Per annum Business (one party) £7 to £8/10 £13 Business (two-party) £7 £9 . Residential (one party) ' £7 £8 Residential (two-party) £5 £6/12/Residential (four-party) £4/5/£6