446

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 15

telephones on party lines it is not necessary to prepare a fresh bond, the above procedure being all that is required.

103. Payment of the subscription due by one or more of the parties must not be accepted without reference to the Chief Accountant unless the total amount due on the whole line is tendered at the same time. An exception to this rule may be made, however, in cases where the parties were connected before the appointment of agents for all party lines was enforced.

104. If payment of the whole of the rental for a party line is not made within reasonable time the line should be disconnected at the switchboard, and a report of the circumstances made to the Chief Accountant immediately. A few days’ notice of intention to disconnect should be given to each of the parties.

105. Charitable institutions which hold party lines are allowed half-rates on one connection only, and that only after the sanction of the Secretary has been obtained.

106. The private residences of officers of the Department will, if desired, be connected with the telephone exchange at the following reduced rates, subject to the undermentioned conditions:—

(a.) For an exclusive circuit, half-rates, with a minimum of £4 per annum. For a party wire to connect with the premises of two or more officers of the Department the minimum fee payable by each officer will be £3 per annum for a two-party line and £2 13s. 4d. for a three-party line. No entrance fee will be charged.

(b.) The usual bond is to be given agreeing to retain the connection for one year for each two miles. The terms of the bond will not be enforced in the event of the officer’s transfer to another town.

(c.) The removal of a telephone within the area served by the exchange must be paid for by the officer as in the case of an ordinary connection.

107. When a subscriber wishes to have his telephone moved the usual guarantee to meet estimated expenditure is to be taken in all cases, and a deposit is to be required at the discretion of the officer dealing with the matter. He will usually claim the deposit only in cases where he has reasonable doubts as to payment being made, or, having no knowledge whatever on the point, prefers to take a deposit.

108. Exchange attendants are cautioned against listening to subscribers’ conversations. It is not necessary to listen to a conversation: all that is required of an attendant in the way of “tapping” being to ascertain whether a conversation is ended or not. A moment of time and the hearing of a single syllable will suffice. If the offence of “tapping” out of curiosity is sheeted home to any officer dismissal from the Department’s employ will probably follow. Controlling officers must report every case. Failure to do so will be severely dealt with.

109. In the case of an application for a bureau communication unsatisfied at the hour of closing, the receiving station, if a combined telegraph or telephone office and bureau, must be “stopped,” and the communication given at ordinary rates, provided the application is made not later than a quarter of an hour before closing-time. When the application is made within the last quarter of an hour, or where the receiving station is a bureau only, the reopening fee and the switching fee, if any, are chargeable.

110. If any person wishes to communicate from a bureau or a post-office over a private wire which has been run into such