SYDNEY CAN BE RUNG UP BY CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19236, 25 November 1930, Page 7

SYDNEY CAN BE RUNG UP BY CITY.

NO RUSH FOR RADIO ’PHONE FACILITIES.

Anyone in Christchurch can now ring up Sydney providing he has £3 to spare. Officially one o’clock this afternoon was the hour at which the public could start putting in calls, but up to tjie time of going to press no one had taken advantage of this marvel of

Telegraph officials in Christchurch have already been in communication with officials in Sydney, and the tests showed that it was just as easy to hear across the Tasman as it is across Cook, Strait.

It is perhaps just as well that there was no rush of applicants wanting a number when the service was opened this afternoon, because it was quite possible that there would be a good number of North Island calls waiting to be put through. As people are already aware, the method of linking up with Sydney by telephone is simplicity itself, thanks to the amazing inventions of the radio experts. All a Christchurch man has to do is to ring up the local exchange, which rings through to Wellington, and gives the number of the Sydney’s man’s telephone. Wellington advises whether there is a long waiting list, and sa\'s, “Will ring you in ten minutes,” or whatever the time may be. Meanwhile the Christchurch man must keep handy, and though he may have to wait some little time, it will not really be more difficult than getting a trunk land call through at an ordinarily busy time.

Wellington, of course, does all the radio part of the business, and all the rest is done over the ordinary land telephone lines. The fee for a Sydney chat is £1 a minute, with a minimum of £3.