444
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 15

of 6d. for the request and reply; the fee for such copies to be affixed in stamps to the “forwarded” UCT.

85. A record must be kept and a statement furnished, on form Acct. 192, showing the receipts and expenditure in connection with the opening of temporary offices—i.e., the value of all telegrams received for transmission, and the cost of erecting and dismantling instruments, expenses of operators, &c. In the event of the expenditure exceeding the receipts the deficiency must be made good by the body or corporation at the instance of which the office was opened, and brought to charge as “Telegraph cash receipts.” Officers’ expenses must be claimed by voucher.

86. In order to prevent, as far as possible, abuse of the facilities that telephonic communication affords, with the consequent loss of revenue to the Department, telephonists are paid fees instead of fixed salaries. This applies to all new offices from their opening except where services are performed gratuitously, and to offices where a salary is at present paid when a change in telephonist takes place, also when otherwise required specially. Notification of the system of payment is to be given to the incoming telephonist at the earliest possible moment, before he has taken up duty if possible, and his objections to the change are to be tactfully met. Three halfpence will be paid for each telegram and each bureau communication forwarded and received, including urgents, and 1d. for each “transmit,” which will be counted as one message only. At offices which are receiving offices only, 2d. will be paid for each ordinary telegram forwarded, provided the telegram is telephoned to the central office; and 1½d. when the telegram is collected by Departmental message-boy.

87. In cases in which non-permanent telephonists are paid fees for telephone-exchange work, £2 per annum will be paid for each subscriber on exclusive circuits, and £1 per annum for each subscriber on party-line circuits.

88. The first account rendered for a telephone-exchange subscription should cover the period elapsing between the date on which the connection is completed and the first day of the following half-yearly period, unless such first period does not exceed one month.

89. If the period does not exceed one month the account must also include the hire payable for the half-year next ensuing. All accounts other than the first must be rendered in advance for a half-yearly period.

90. Seven days may be allowed in which to pay the initial subscription or that for any subsequent half-year.

91. Should a subscription for which the account has been duly rendered remain unpaid after the last day of grace has expired, the wire is to be disconnected at the switchboard and the subscriber so informed; and should it remain unpaid for a further seven days the connection must, provided the term of the bond has expired, be cancelled, and a report of the same forwarded to the Chief Accountant through the Telegraph Engineer.

92. If the term of the bond has not expired the wire is to be disconnected at the switchboard, and payment of the subscription repeatedly demanded; and if it be not paid within fourteen days of the due date a report is to be made to the Chief Accountant.

93. Telephone subscriptions are not to be accepted unless accompanied by amount due for stores accounts.