TELEPHONE CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 8

TELEPHONE CHARGES.

(By Telegraph.—Spcclal Correspondent.) Christchurch, May 7. AVithin tho last few days long-distance telephone subscribers, to their astonishment and indignation, received a circular from the Department to the ellect that tho renewal of their telephones was (in pursuance of new regulations recently adopted) to be increased by .£1 per mile pi'V nun urn for every milo over three miles from tho central office. The effect of this fiat is to increase hugely the alreadv substantial co l t of ihe°telephones. A "Press" representative made inquiries into the matter to-day. Hitherto the regular charge was .£2 per mile over three miles—a _ uniform feo which subscribers paid. Now'some subscribers are asked to pay .£3 per mile per annum, while others retain their connection at (he rate of ..£2 per mile over tho three miles, but up to tho three miles, no change has been made in the charge. Vntil April 1, 1S!)7, the capital cost of all extensions to the telephone system, beyond the three-mile limit, was paid for bv tlie Government, and tho subscriber was charged the cost of maintenance and other expenses represented by the .£'2 per mile pel* annum. On April 1, 1597, however, now regulations came into force whereby the capital cost of telephones constructed over tho three-mile limit was paid for bir the subscriber who wished the extension made, and he likewise was charged £2 per mile per annum for maintenance. The elTect of this was io separate the subscribers into two classes—thoso who had paid the capital cost of construction themselves, and those who had it paid for them by She Government, although both classes paid tho same rental. . The intention of the new regulation is (o call upon the latter class to contribute an additional ,£1 per mile per annum by wav of interest on the capita! cost of their extensions, and so to bring them in line with the other ciass of subscribers who paid the capital cost themselves. The increase, therefore, will not affect those, who rented an extension after April 1, 1597 They have already met the obligation which is now imposed upon those who rented extensions prior to that date.