TELEGRAPH RATES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19758, 27 March 1934, Page 2

TELEGRAPH RATES

NEW SCALE TO COME INTO FORCE A new scale of charges for telegrams, to become operative on April 3, has been annojpwad by the PostmasterGeneral. For local telegrams the rate will be 6d for 12 words, and for others 9d to Is 3d, according to the distance the telegram is sent. For additional words in excess of twelve one penny each will be charged. Urgent telegrams will go at the ordinary rate, with an extra charge of 6d, and collect telegrams will go at the ordinary rate with an extra charge of 3d. Letter telegrams of 24 words each may be sent for from 6d to Is 3d, according to the distance they have to go. Ordinary week-day charges will be made on Sundays and holidays. In explanation of the reason underlying the change, the PostmasterGeneral 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 be collected from the sender of the long-distance telegram, and on the other hand to reduce the charge made to the sender of the short-distance message. The present charge of Is for 12 words, irrespective of the distance that the telegram has to be transmitted, has been open to the objection of being inequitable. Short-Distance Messages. 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 longdistance message, but the incidence of traffic is such that It has been possible to limit the increase for long-distance messages to a maximum of 3d, and to begin the scale for the shorter distance messages at 6d. Evidence has not been wainting of the existence of a demand for a cheaper rate for local telegrams, that is, telegrams lodged for delivery from the office of origin, and the adoption of a rate as 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 one penny steps 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. A notable feature of the new scale Is the heavy reduction that has been made in the 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 message should contribute to the 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. Telegraph charges on Sundays and holidays, which hitherto have been double charges, are now reduced to single charges as on ordinary week days. The sole object in making the adjustment in 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. There has been no direct attempt at increasing the revenue, but it is thought that increased business will follow the applying to telegrams of what may be termed "popular charges.”