July 24.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 2439

23. (1.) The following hours of attendance are observed at the telephone exchanges, according to the number of paying subscribers connected therewith:—

Subscribers. Hours.
1 to 50 (inclusive) .. .. 9 a.m to 5 p.m. (see also section 11).
51 „ 100 „ .. 8 „ 8 „
101 „ 125 „ .. 8 „ 10 „
126 „ 150 „ .. 8 „ midnight.
151 and over .. Open continuously, if at any time not less than two-thirds of the business subscribers and not less than two-thirds of the private-residence subscribers express in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, their desire that the telephone exchange be so opened. Such expression as aforesaid is deemed to be operative until reversed by an expression of the desire of not less than two-thirds of the business subscribers and not less than two-thirds of the private-residence subscribers that the hours observed be from 8 a.m. to midnight. The wishes of subscribers on a party-line must be voiced collectively by the appointed agent, each line for this purpose being counted as one subscriber. Nothing in this regulation will operate to prevent compliance with a requisition signed by a two-thirds majority of subscribers to a telephone exchange, for business and private connections taken together, to revert from lengthened to shortened periods of attendance at such exchange if the hours of attendance were lengthened before the 28th day of January, 1915.

(2.) At exchanges where the number of paying subscribers exceeds thirty and does not exceed fifty the hours of attendance may be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., provided that not less than three-fourths of the paying subscribers to such exchange apply in writing for the extension of hours (see also section 11), and further provided that in the case of an office under the control of a non-permanent officer of the Department satisfactory arrangements can be made with the telephonist for the extension.

TELEPHONE BUREAUX.

2. The following are the charges to be paid by the public for the use of Government telephones at a telephone bureau in New Zealand.

NOTE.—Urgent communications at any time are charged double the fees shown under the heading 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. They take precedence of all others.

CHARGES FOR TOLL COMMUNICATIONS.

ORDINARY RATES.

• NOTE.—For communications from subscribers speaking from their own telephones, half these rates up to 25 miles only.

The special rates applicable to ordinary communications between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. shall not apply to urgent communications, and shall apply only at telephone exchanges which are open after 8 p.m.

A toll line is any departmental line (as distinct from a subscriber’s line) connecting two places or exchanges, for the use of which a charge is made. Until further defined, all lines, except subscribers’ lines, are toll lines.

When a communication requiring the use of a toll line cannot be had, owing to absence, inattention, or other failure on the part of the subscriber with whom it is desired to communicate, or when, after a subscriber has been informed that a telephone bureau or telephone exchange is closed, he makes a request, either before or after the hours fixed for business at that office, that an attempt be made to secure its attention, and such attempt proves abortive, a charge will be made for the service rendered. The fee payable is one-third of the initial rate for the length of line engaged, with a minimum charge of 3d. for every ordinary connection and 6d. for every urgent connection.

On holidays, during office hours, toll communications are allowed between bureaux which can communicate direct with each other or through an exchange which is open on holidays.

Urgent toll communications take priority over non-urgent communications.