PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 16 August 1920, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Eelephones. Judging by the questions put to the Postmaster-General in the House, country settlers feel that the increased telephone charges, especially on the party lines, will be a severe tax upon them. Mr Coatcs, replying to one of these questions, states that backbloek settlers are less affected by the increased telephone rentals than other subscribers, for the following reasons. Such subscribers generally avail themselves of the party line system, whereby as many as six subs can combine on tt party line at rales which are con siderably below those charged for exclusive lines. The increased mileage charge complained of is divided amongst a number of persons forming a parly, and, in the case of a sixparty line, the increased charge is tonpence per quarter-mile. With six parties on the line the increased mileage charge commences to operate only at a distance of three miles from the exchange. Beyond this three-mile distance, party line subscribers may as an alternative erect a line for themselves. No rental whatever is charged for this section. Materials for this privately erected section of line may under the new backblocks telephone ]| scheme be obtained from the DcpurtJ 1 nieut as soon as supplies become avail able at cost price.—. Vol satisfied with this reply. Mr McCallum again asked the Post master-General to " consider the matter, as the increased charges would cause some subscribers on party lines to drop out. throwing tt heavier burden on remaining users. Mr ('"tiles repealed that the cost to individuals would be very small. He was obliged to get revenue to pay a 33 1-3 per cent increase in wages, besides the big increases in the cost of material. For instance, the simplest form oi telephone formerly costing 30s now cost .-:■; 01 '.;. He was prepare.-! to admit lhat big city users of telepi es got more than their share >•( beni fit under the late rate system, but it was possible that soon this would be changed to a method under which charges would be made according to ' the number of calls.