NEW POSTAL RATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1920, Page 4

NEW POSTAL RATES.

BURDEN ON BUSINESS PEOPLE. The new telephone rates came into force on August i, arid the effect during the first month just closed discloses to New Plymouth firms substantial increases in their telephone bills.' The increased costs are principally, provided by the amended bureau charges, which fall heavily 611 commercial firms which do a 'great deal 01 business over the telephone. The increased rental fee is not heavy, only ing Is 8d a month, the fee having been increased from .-CO to £". The bureau rates, however, are particularly burdensome, and represent from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent, increase in charges. For a fifty mile radius the old charge of 2d a minute with a 6d minimum has been increased to 3d and 9d respectively, while for greater distances the increase is higher. As far as New Plymouth is concerned the new rates have not brought any noticeable change in the bureau business up to 150 mil;*, but there has been a falling off in calls for longer distances, such as Wellington, the new rates representing a marked increase, and it is apparently . regarded as too costly a luxury to converse with far-away friends. The now postal and telegraphic rati? represent another burden on commercial' firms, whose bills for these items for the past month are about doubled.