TELEGRAPHIC CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1930, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC CHARGES

‘ ’ i!i •)!>.. > l >, •. i CRITICISED BY P. AND T. MEN’S SECRETARY, ' ■ A LOSING PROPOSITION. i f ■' ~ (By Telegraph-Per Press Association ' -- WANGANUI, July 21. Criticism of the eliargies ina.de ior telegrams wits made by Air J. H. A||Kenzie- (general "secretary of .the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association) at the Wan gamil 1 cli’strict; annual reunion. He held that the preseni> charges were a heavy losing proposition to the department.. He corriphred telegraphic with ' telephonic communication, pointing out '.that, where in the past telegrams had been sept, business people .now resorted to to}). 1 : oalls) with , a consequent. falling off' of revenue in the 1 telegraphic department against the rise in the toll department’s revenue, ‘ ‘Threepence is lost' on every ordinary telegram sent,” he said. A business man could communicate with) 'a neighbouring town by telegram for the same charge as he' could with the South Island. With the toll system there was a graduated rate. “All the cream has gone to the toll system and the skimmed milk lias been left to the telegraphic service,” , lie declared. The ''spea,k’eV v ' ! nex£ referred to. tlie j concessions granted to the Pt’QSs Associatipn. “It is . not generally, known ’just!: 'what concessions the' Press AsVociiition Go get,” he fea-id. “I have no doubt that iiifthe hear future economy measures will be favoured by the (newspapers throughout the land. The Press will express the opinion that every. Government department should 'pay its way. Is that same Press going to tell the public what the Press Association 'is ' getting in concessions? I venture to say it iron’t. The Press Association will say that the Post and .Telegraph Department will have to pay its way .or retrench.” He added (that, according to one statement issued, the Press Association- cost £45,000/ to. . £IOO,OOO sterling per annum. Taking 100 words as a basis, he said that Press messages cost Is 6d against 0s 4d for commercial telegrams. The Press Association should pay more for the service, it was getting.