TELEPHONE RATES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4518, 22 January 1923, Page 1

TELEPHONE RATES.

PROPOSED NEW CHARGES. MONTHLY COLLECTIONS. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. G. Coates, suppliesi a report in connectton witihi telephone exchange connections, together with a scheme for the (revision of the present charges. This is being submitted to chambers of commerce and other organisations interested for a.n expression of opinion, and the Minister expresses a hope that it will, on the whole, be acceptable to all concerned. Under the proposed new scale it is intended to collect subscriptions monthly, and the new rates for Paoroa (Class 3) will be as under ;— Business : One party, 15s ; two party in same town, block, 12s 6d. Residential: One pairty, 10s,; two party, 7s 8d ; four party, 6s’ Bd. The residential rates under the new schedule will be, approximately, half business rates, it being put forwards in justification that while the city subscriber averages 6000 calls per annum, the suburban resident averages only about 1095. BACK-BLOCK SETTLERS. Mr Coates says that the furnishing of ’phones to country and back-block settlers at less than cost is a policy based on the fact that back-block telephonic communication is essentially a first necessity. Urban service will be available to persons located just outside the base rate area, and to rural subscribers upon payment o£ the base rate, plus mileage charges beyond the base area boundary. Rural line service is on a flat rale basis, i.e., all subscribers on a line pay a common rate irrespective of their distances from the exchange. The department will construct lines to the subscribers’ premises and iristal telephones, but all poles on private roads and private property will be furnished at the subscribers’ expense. Rural line service differs from urban service only in that it is furnished on a multiparty basis (from five to ten subscribers being served by the same line), and that a stated number of subscribers is required for a state! unit of distance, namely, one subscriber per mile. FLAT RATE 1 BASIS. Provision is .also made for what, may be termed the further back backblock settlers, who may/ construct t'heir own lines, leading them to a suitable centre, and the Government will provide them free with a trunk line to the nearest telephone exchange or telephone bureau connected with an exchange. The service Ison a flat rate basis. Private station service will not be furnished unless there is a given number of subscribers connected with the line. This will allow of a rate being quoted as low as £1 10s per subscriber per annum tor each two 1 miles of circuit wholly provided by the .depatrmenc.