TELEGRAPH RATES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 4 May 1934, Page 5

TELEGRAPH RATES.

Minister’s Letter Amuses Chamber. “DELICIOUS” AND “HUMOROUS." “ Delicious ” and “ rather humorous ” were comments made by members of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening concerning a long letter from the Postmaster-General (the Hon Adam Hamilton) in which the Minister set out in considerable detail the reasons which led to the decision to alter the system of charging for telegrams. The Minister’s letter was in reply to a telegram from the Chamber on April 5, and a letter on April 6 protesting against the alteration in the charges. ‘‘lt is perhaps within your knowledge,” stated the Minister’s letter, ‘‘that for some years the telegraph system has not been returning adequate recompense in view of the capital outlay and labour costs which it involves. For too many years the Department has been receiving Is for long distance telegrams which cost Is 3d or more to handle. Underlying the change in method of charging, however, was the idea of evolving a system which, while requiring a long distance telegram to pay for itself, would not necessarily increase the revenue yield on the present volume of traffic but would nevertheless tend uftimately to increase the revenue by bringing about an increase in business. And the way to an increase in business is now open by reason of the sender of the short distance telegram being enabled to send his message without paying more than an equitable fee.” The Logical Conclusion. Air A. C. Bretherton said that if the Minister’s proposal was carried to its logical conclusion, a letter to Wellington would cost a penny, one to Auckland would cost 2d, to Sydney lOd and to London 4s 2d.

“ We will all agree that the Minister’s letter is delicious,” said Mr W. Machin. “It serves the argument we have constantly raised in this chamber of the extraordinary view men begin to take of business when they become enmeshed in the Government service.” Mr C. P. Agar expressed the opinion that the final result would be that the Department would lose substantially and not gain anything. The uniform charge for telegrams was the accepted practice. He regarded the action taken as most unbusinesslike and the reply as rather humorous. It was decided that the Postal Committee should forward a reply.