THE PENAL TELEGRAPH CHARGES AT AKAROA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 456, 3 December 1880, Page 3

THE PENAL TELEGRAPH CHARGES AT AKAROA.

The following correspondence on the above subject has been placed at our disposal for publication : — Christchurch, Nov. 27. 1880. Sir,—l enclose herewith copies of a correspondence between the Commissioner ' of Telegraphs and myself respecting the •c* extra charge on telegrams transmitted to and from Akaroa, and have to express regret that the Commissioner does not de.mit expedient to abolish such extra £ charge. With respect to tho wisdom or otherwise of combining the office of postmaster with that of telegraphist, I cannot speak from my own knowledge ; but when you and others expressed to me a decided opinion, I telegraphed that opinion to the Commissioner, believing then, as I do now, tbat you were well able to judge of the exJ* pediency of combining the two offices.—l i am, etc., W. Montgomery. To James D. Garwood, Esq., . Akaroa.

W. Montgomery, Esq., to the Hon. ihe Commissioner of Telegraphs.

Nov. 2, 1880. Sir,—At the instance of some of the residents at Akaroa I have the honor to bring under your notice the extra charges made on telegrams transmitted to and from the station at that place and request you will favorably consider tho expediency of abolishing such charges. I ainlnformed that the extra charge of sixpence on each telegram frequently prevents men of business and others from making use of the telegraph, and that in consequenco the receipts now are not probably greater than the receipts before the additional charge was imposed. When I was in Wellington I understood ifc was your intention to combine the offices of Postmaster and Telegraphist at ,Akaroa,' and so reduce the expenses that an extra charge on telegrams would not be required. lam informed that at Temuka, Waimate, Oxford, and other places, the extra charge has been abandoned ; and if this is so, I respectfully submit tbat Akaroa should not be exceptionally treated.. Requesting your favorablo consideration of the matter I now bring under your notice,—l am, etc., W. Montgomery. The Commissioner of Telegraphs, 1 Wellington.

The same to the same. (Tklegham.) Christchurch, Nov. 10,1880. I understand from residents at Akaroa that, with duo regard to efficiency, it is not possible to combine the offices of postmaster, and telegraphist there. You, of course, know all the circumstances better than I ; but should you make alterations in the staff, I trust, you will consider the convenience of the public. W. Montgomery.

(Reply.) N.Z. Telegraph, Head Office. Wellington, Nov. 15, 1880. , Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge ( the receipt of your letter of the 2nd inst., , calling attention to the extra charge of 6d on telegrams, made at Akaroa ; also ' reminding me that it had been proposed, by 1 combining the offices of postmaster and i telegraphist, so to reduce expenditure as to j render this extra charge unnecessary, and . requesting that Akaroa should not be exceptionally treated. I have further to acknowledge your telegram of the 10th inst., stating that you understand from residents that, with due regard to efficiency, the offices in question cannot be combined, and that two officers are required. With reference to the first communication, I have to state that, by amalgamation of tho two offices, a saving of £171 per annum has been effected, but as this leaves still a considerable excess of expenditure over revenue, it would be treating Akaroa exceptionally to abolish the extra charge. The information you have received as to the extra charge having been abolished at certain offices is hardly correct. At Waimate it was never necessary to impose the extra charge. At Temuka and Oxford it has been, abolished because the cost of the combined offices is within the revenue collected there. With respect to the opinion of residents, tbat two officers are required, no facts are given in support of that opinion, anfl as I £tm advised by the heads of both departments affected that, looking to the small amount of work at Akaroa, it can be very well performed by the reduced staff, I should not be justified in abandoning the amalgamation by which so considerable a saving, as that above mentioned, has been effected. I regret that tl>e efforts of the Govern ment in the direction of economy do not in this particutar instance, appear to meet with your approval ; but as no serious curtailment of administrative convenience at Akaroa is really involved, I trust you will acquiesce in the application to that district of the retrenchment in the public expenditure which has become Indispensable, and which, in its general application, has met with very hearty approval.— I am, etc., _ John Halt To W. Montgomery, Esq., Christchurch.