P. AND T. DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 259, 27 July 1920, Page 4

P. AND T. DEPARTMENT

! . INCREASES IN THE CHANGES. Tho increases in the Post and Tel<v graph charges, which aro to come into l'orco on August 1, and which were published in full in The Dominion yesterday, created a good deal of interest, and not a little consternation, in business circles yesterday. Ono merchant was of tho opinion that, under tho circumstances, it was unreasonable to charge 2d. for tho earriago of a letter instead of lid., but at the 6ame time he noted that tho weight of the letter to be so carried had been reduced from 4oz. to 20.i., so that the Department hit both ways at once. Telegrams had advanced from Bd. per dozen words to Is., that was to ray, that tho minimum rate had. been advanced 50 per cent., which was a fairly drastic increase, and would, hit tho business community pretty hard. The official view of the new eoalo casta a somewhat different light on the argument about the increased charges. It has been estimated that tho amount of anoney which will bo brought in- by tlia now charges will just about cover Uia increases in tho cost of administration.. Tho wages of all employees have gon« up, and nieaus ha<J to be taken to moot them. It was not possiblo to raise the emolument of practically everyone in a big service like tho Post and Telegraph Department without dovising means to pay the saino. If tho amount of business remained as much under the new chaiges as it was now, the Post and Telegraph Department (it was stated) would no doubt make n, profit, but experience had shown that whenever a rise in charges was mad# thero was a failing off in the measure of business done, and so it would be after August 1. After all, the charges woro only reverting to what they wore somo years ago, and surely the exigencies of the situation justified it.

Increased Charge for Tdophoncs,

Tho Postmaster-GenoTal (Hon. J. Q< Coates) announced yesterday tluat from August 1 telephone charges are to be increased l>y i;l per annum per connection j nnd there will be imposed an increase of 59. per quarter-mile for lines extending beyond tho present maximum, distanco (half-fl-milo from tho exchange in the caso of private residence connections) for which the initial rato is charged. Tho increase does not apply to current subscriptions duo beforo August 1. From tho same dale the fee for tele phono bureau eoinmunicnlions will ba raisod as under:—Distanco: Up to 10 miles, new rates for iiret three minutes, 6d.i 10 to 20 miles, 6d.; 20 to 50 9d.; 50 to 75 miles, Is.; 75 to 100 miles, Is. 6(1.; 100 to 150 miles, 2s. 3d.; 150 to 200 mite, 35.; 200 to 250 miles, 3s. 9d.; 250 to 300 miles, fc. Cel.; 300 to 350 miles, ss. 3d.; 350 to 400 miles, Gs., 100 to 450 miles, 6s. 3d.; 450 to 500 miles, 76. Gd. Tho rato for each minute after the first throe minutes will also bo raised.For communicatioiis from subscribers sneaking from tboir own tolophoiio half these rates will bo charged for a distance up to' ten miles. Niglit bureau cominunications at half rates will bo avail* able from 10 instead of 8 p.m.