TELEPHONE RATES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 6

TELEPHONE RATES.

4 REDUCTIONS TO "BE MADE. In . reply to, several members, tho Prime Minister (Sir-Joseph Ward) stated in tho Houso last ■ night that thG charges and regulations for teiephono services throughout tho country were about to be altered. In connection with telephone exchanges not open continuously, the minimum rato for an exclusive wire would bo iCS, as a/t present. The rate for two- subscribers on a ono mile lino would bo .£3 195., as against £1 at present. The rato on a wire of on.e to three miles for three to six subscribers would bo reduced to a uniform JC3. The rate for a threo to five-mile lino would bo reduced from .£6 to Uit Bs., and tho extra first-year charge of £1 4s. would be abolished. There' would be other reductions, and it was proposed to limit fho number of subscribers on a single lino to five on a iive-milo line, nino on a sixmile line, and so on. Tho rates in connection with exchanges open continuously would be slightly higher than the above. Country settlers would bo ablo to obtain telephonic connection without great outlay, and ho anticipated that' the increased uso of the telephone that would result from these large reductions would make good tho extra,.cost to tho .State, He hoped that the introduction of improved instruments would mako it .possible to equalise tho charges for connection' with any city exchange, irrespective of the distance of the subscriber from the exchange. The rates for business subscribers would bo increased by JBI a year.