TELEPHONES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1670, 10 February 1913, Page 4

TELEPHONES.

MR. RHODES REPLIES TO MR, ELL, (By; Telojraph.—Prces Association.) Chrlstchurch, February 9. Replying to a statement made by Mr. Ell, M.P., regarding tho expenditure of votes for telephone and telegraph extensions (telegraphed last Monday), Mr. Rhodes, Postmaster-General, in an interview, said.—"Mr. Ell's contention that I have overlooked tho fact that applications for slot telephones were for sites' within districts already covered with ft network of telephone wires, is incorrect. I am perfectly .well awaro of tho fact, but it does not by any means follow that they can bo installed without expense, and tho aggregation of such expenditure makes inroads on the amount, largo as it may appear, available for tho extensions of the telephone system both in town and country districts. I can only say that I am fully seized of the necessity for establishing tho facilities of the telephone system, whether it bo by means of slot telephones or othcrwlso, but I must bo allowed to exercise my own judgment in tho matter of the order in which tho work must proceed.' Tho enormous increaso in tho demand for connections with tho telephone exchanges throughout tho Dominion renders it absolutely necessary that the nmount provided'for this class of business is not exceeded. Mr. Ell's attempt to mako it appear that tho value of slot machines as revenue-producers exceeds that of ordinary telephone exchango connections is quite besido tho question. Ono must be regarded as a corollary of the other, as without exchange subscribers the slot machines would be of little uso. In any ease the Government must keep pace with tho demand for these most necessary adjuncts of modern life." . ~,