SLOT TELEPHONES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5507, 29 November 1929, Page 2

SLOT TELEPHONES.

PARCEL DELIVERY. CHAMBER’S REQUESTS. The absence of slot telephones for the convenience of the public in Paeroa came under discussion at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. The president, Mr P. Williams, in bringing the matter up, said that in comparison with towns of the same size Paeroa was very backward in the matter of public slot in the meter telephone facilities. It was quite time there was a public one, instead of people having to worry shopkeepers for the use of their phones. A penny in the slot cabinet should be installed. Mr A. Fellow stated that at Morrinsville, through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce there, a 3d slot telephone had been installed at the station. This had not proved a suitable site ; the proper place was at a spot most frequented by the passersby.

Mr Williams : Outside the post office, or in the porch there. Mr Pellow intimated that the departmental engineer would have to confer with the Borough Council, as the council had the say as to where it would allow the department to put the box.

Mr Williams : I think we’ll have the support of the Borough Council. Mr P. E. Brenan : Too right I Mr H. H. Bray suggested a penny in the slot in town, and 3d in the slot at the station, which was a long way from the town.

Mr Williams : We have a most obliging officer in charge of the station. He is very good on the matter of telephones.

Mr H. Simmonds (stationmaster) : The postmaster’s here I Mr Pellow explained that there were public telegraphic facilities at the station, yet the messages did not average one a day from passengers. He reiterated that the station was a poor locality, and that the centre of the town was the best position. It was finally decided to write to the district telegraph engineer, Auckland, requesting that a penny in the slot phone be installed in the town. PARCEL DELIVERY. Mr Williams also brought forward the question of parcel delivery, saying that there were sufficient shops and parcels to warrant one. The department should deliver parcels, if only in the shopping area, instead of shopkeepers having to go to the post office to collect them. It was high time there was such a system and they should be delivered before 9 a.m. or with the other mail. Mr Pellow stated that the post office was not supposed to deliver parcels. Mr Williams : It doesn’t, at any rate. ( Mr Bray : What volume of business is required ?

In answer Mr Pellow said that the figure was difficult to get at. The post office ran a system of express delivery through which, when aij extra' 6d stamp had been placed on a parcel, the package was delivered immediately on arrival within a radius of two miles from the post office. The post office could hardly be expected to deliver all parcels, while charging for this special service. He did not think any town in New Zealand had free deliveries. In some places contractors did it by arrangement with the shopkeepers, at a cost arranged between them. Only .the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin had free deliveries.

In answer to Mr Williams Mr Pellow said that the possibility of delivering parcels before 8.30 was a question of staff. If the department would provide more staff the post office could be opened at 8 o’clock. At present parcels were not fully sorted before 9 a.m. In delivery, letters came first, being considered most important; then newspapers, and parcels last. Mr Williams : But parcel notices are in the boxes before 9 a.m.

Mr Pellow : Yes ; but the parcels are not listed.

Mr Williams smilingly remarked that the post office staff could be heard talking behind the closed doors of the post office long before 9 a.m., at which Mr Pellow humorously retorted that before that hour one could also hear many of the leading citizens of Paeroa talking outside the boxes. Mr Brenan considered that any additional facilities granted would probably mean increased telephone rates, and he suggested that the question be gone into by the executive committee.

Mr G. Gamble mentioned that at Waihi there was a free delivery. It was decided to leave the matter 'to the executive committee.