NEW TELEGRAPH RATES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19759, 28 March 1934, Page 10

NEW TELEGRAPH RATES

REVENUE NOT DIRECT OBJECT

STATEMENT BY MINISTER By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. The changes in the rates for telegrams announced by the Post and Telegraph Department have not been made with the direct object of increasing the revenue, but the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. Adam Hamilton) hopes that the adjustment of rates will encourage business and thereby improve the revenue position of his Department. Mr Hamilton told a reporter to-day that it was anticipated that, with the new schedule of charges the revenue would remain approximately as at present until the public begin to appreciate the advantages of the system and then expanding business could be expected with a consequent improvement in returns. It was unjust to say, as some had done, that the new charges were heavier than the present ones, added Mr Hamilton. The rates had been reduced for short distance telegrams, for Sunday and holiday telegrams, and for urgent messages. Only two increases had been made—on distance telegrams and on collect telegrams. The main idea behind the whole scheme was to contrive a more equitable scale of rates in an endeavour to make telegraphing more acceptable to the public as a method of doing business. The revenue from telegrams had not been altogether satisfactory, but it was not the desire of the Department to improve its position by an all round increase in the charges.

The new schedule was based on the same principle as the toll telephone system. On the telepphone one paid for distance and time. In sending telegrams one should pay for distance and length. The old system of charges was the same as the English system. The new system conformed to the American one. It would remain to be seen which was the more suitable for this country.