SLOT TELEPHONES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 220, 5 February 1913, Page 8

SLOT TELEPHONES.

j THE GREAT DEMAND FOR THEM. Christclmrch, February 2. The lion. I!. Heaton Rhodes, Postmas-. ter-General, on his return from the south 011 .Saturday, was seen by a reporter, and the Minister's attention was drawn to remarks made by Mr. Ell, M.P., regarding a statement "made by Mr. Rhodes to a Spreydon deputation which had asked for a slot telephone for that district. Mr. Ell had criticised the Minister's 1 statements that more slot telephones would be erected if funds were available, and that the Departmental estimates were drawn up by the present Government's predecessors in office, and that there were not sufficient funds to supply all needs in the matter of providing slot telephones. 0 Mr. Rhodes said that in the references which he made at Spreydon he did not intend to reflect in any way upon the estimates prepared by Mr. Ell, for no one could have foreseen the increased demand for telephone extensions which arose during the first three months of the present Ministry's term of office. In that period telephone subscribers had increased by 100 per cent. As he (the Minister) had stated on a previous occasion, this increase was partly due to the restriction of telephone rates provided for by the party wire system. The result was that the capital expenditure, which is made from the Public Works Fund (vote for telegraph extension) had increased considerably beyond the amount estimated, and while this increase left the Administration with very restricted funds at its disposal, on the other hand it tended to considerably increase the revenue from what is regarded as a paying business. Though the net result was an eminently satisfactory- one, the amount available out of the Public Works Fund vote for telegraph extension was less than otherwise would have been the case, and it is for this reason that the issue of slot machines has had to be somewhat restricted in the meantime. As to Mr. Ell's remark that the Minister was "quite unjustified in refusing the Spreydon deputation's request,' Mr. Rhodes said that he desired to point out that it was not only the Spreydon request he had to consider. 0 were requests for a very lar»e number not only from the four centres but from smaller towns. '