SUBURBAN TELEPHONES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 7

SUBURBAN TELEPHONES.

REDUCTION IN RATES URGED. Tho telephone rates in the suburban, areas of tho chief, centres of the pomiuion were brought' under the notice of_ tho Premier yesterday by a ■ deputation of, members of Parliament who urged that a reduction should bo made. ' . ' Mr. G. Laurenson pointed out that at Lyttelton the-charge was 10s. per week for 1 a telephone connection with Christchurch. Subscribers at Lyttelton naturally desired to communicate with Christclmrch, yet they had to pay this high fee. It was the same in tho case of other centres. If a slight reduction' wore made there would be a very large increase in the number .of subscribers.,, Messrs. Hanan, Buddo, E. ,G. Allen, Witty, and the Hons. T. ,Y. Duncan, and Barr'also spoke, and the Premier, in.replying, said ho would be glad to consider the. request which, however, . involved a very important, matter. Be had always been desirous of doing what he could to extend the telephone facilities. Tho present rate of subscription for business telephones was £< per annum, and for private houses £5, within a radius of two miles. Outside the two mile radius the Department had to make provision for the annual maintenance, and if a rate was charged less than would cover that :6st the annual charge would have to be increased. Ho had given instructions that morning, which lie would extend under certain conditions, for the providing of ■ regulations to allow country settlors to •erect their' own wires and connect; them with thoj oxchanges without any charge. Tho settlers would have to provide tho capital cost and tlie. maintenance, and they could then communicate with any exchange. ;If they dosired to speak over tho trunk lines, howover, they would have to pay the bureau rates This was a very considerable concession. A settler could send telegrams over the telephone)'to tho telegraph offico, and would also receive telegrams in the came way. The Premier declared against tho "toll" system on tho ground of increased cost to anyone using the telophuno constantly ' Ho would go fully into the subject of tho request, and if tho. reduction.wero feasible, ho would have it made.. ■ ■Mr. Witty: Yoii' will get more subscribers if you-do. . • ,