NEW YORK CALLS UP LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18049, 8 January 1927, Page 8

NEW YORK CALLS UP LONDON.

ENORMOUS INTEREST TAKEN IN OPENING OF ’PHONE SYSTEM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received fanuarv 8. 11 .'lO am.) NEW YORK, January 7. Enormous public interest was aroused in the opening of the public TransAtlantic telephone system between New York and London, which was duly inaugurated today by a conversation between Sir Evclvn Murray, Secretary-general of the British Post Office, and Mr Walter Gifford, Pre i dent of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, after which the service was thrown open to the public. There were so many applications in New York and London to speak on the first day that the company to-day extended the scheduled time, which was normally from 8.30 in the morning until 10.30. New York time, continuing until late in the afternoon, in an endeavour to take care of the rush of first business. The cost is seventy-five dollars for the first three minutes, and twentyfive dollars a minute thereafter, with a limit of twelve minutes, unless calls are slack. The novelty caught the imagination of New Yorkers to an extent hardly anticipated. Hundreds of persons, bank presidents, leaders of industry, professional men. and stage and film stars, are seeking publicity by using the system, and hoping to advertise their business thereby. They besieged the offices of the company by telephone, letters and in person. Over sixty journalists and offic:;.!:; pf the company, prpvided with ear phones, cut in on the Murruy-Gifford conversation, and photographers took pictures of the scene. Officials declare that it was difficult to continue the service when one continent was dark, due to the increased static difficulties. The method of making the call is the same as for any distant point, except that the caller has to be connected by a trans-Atlantic operator.