2460

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 69

(c.) That for charging purposes the measurement of duration of a station-to-station message shall commence at the moment when telephonic communication is established between the “calling” and the “called” subscribers’ stations or, in cases where a private branch exchange is involved, the private branch exchange switchboard-operator.

106. Any person making application for the use of a toll line shall give his name to the exchange attendant on request.

107. In cases in which the line is engaged, applications shall be recorded, and connections shall be made in order of priority of application.

108. The rates for ordinary toll communications shall be as follows:—

From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.,—
Up to three minutes—
For distances up to 20 miles s. d.
0 4
For every additional 5 miles or fraction thereof up to 100 miles
0 1
For every additional 10 miles or fraction thereof exceeding 100 miles
0 2

From 9 p.m. to midnight and from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at exchanges which are open at any time between those hours,—
Up to three minutes—
For distances up to 40 miles s. d.
0 4
For every additional 5 miles or fraction thereof up to 100 miles
0 0½
For every additional 10 miles or fraction thereof exceeding 100 miles
0 1

From midnight to 6 a.m. at exchanges which are open at any time between those hours,—
Up to six minutes—
For distances up to 40 miles s. d.
0 4
For every additional 5 miles or fraction thereof up to 100 miles
0 0½
For every additional 10 miles or fraction thereof exceeding 100 miles
0 1

For every additional minute exceeding three between 6 a.m. and midnight, and for every additional minute exceeding six between midnight and 6 a.m., the charge shall be one-third of the initial rate. In calculating the charge for a toll communication all fractions of a penny shall be counted; but in the total charge for a communication fractions smaller than a halfpenny shall be excluded, and fractions in excess of a halfpenny counted as one penny.

109. (1.) The rates for urgent toll communications at any time during the day or night shall be double the rates shown under the heading “8 a.m. to 9 p.m.” Urgent communications shall be given precedence over ordinary communications.

(2.) The special rates applicable to ordinary communications between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. shall not apply to urgent communications, and shall apply only to communications originating at telephone exchanges which are open at any time between those hours.

110. No extra charge shall be made for toll communications during the normal hours of attendance on Sundays and holidays.

111. Provided the attention of the toll stations concerned can be gained, toll communications may be arranged after the ordinary hours of attendance on week-days or Sundays on payment of a reopening fee of 1s. if the Postmaster is resident on the premises, or 2s. 6d. if not resident on the premises. In addition, if the attendance of any officer is required beyond a period of twenty minutes, such attendance shall be paid for at the rate of 1s. for every subsequent twenty minutes or fraction thereof.

112. When the completion of a toll communication is not effected owing to—
     (a.) The absence, inattention, or other failure to reply on the part of the subscriber’s station with which it is desired to communicate;
     (b.) The person with whom it is desired to communicate not being a subscriber;
     (c.) The subscriber’s station making the request failing to make use of the line, or to cancel the request before the line becomes available; or
     (d.) Failure to gain the attention of a toll station or telephone exchange, after the calling subscriber has been advised that the office he requires is closed—
     a charge of one-third of the initial rate shall be made for the length of toll line utilized in attempting to complete the call, with a minimum of 4d. for every ordinary communication, and 8d. for every urgent communication.

113. A charge of 3d. shall be made for the delivery to a person within the usual radius of the free delivery of telegrams of any message that such person is required to attend at a toll station. For a similar request to be delivered to a person who resides beyond the radius of the free delivery of telegrams, a special charge shall be made according to the expense incurred in the delivery of the message.

114. The delivery of any message, either written or spoken, other than a request for attendance at a toll station, is prohibited. Such a message shall be accepted only as a telegram.

115. Any person making a request at a toll station for a toll communication shall be required to deposit an amount equal to the charge for a three-minute conversation over the length of line on which it is desired to communicate.

116. When a private telephone-line connected with a toll station is used for the purpose of having communication on a toll line, the charges for the toll communication shall be the same as if the communication had originated or terminated at the toll station—i.e., the private telephone-line shall not be calculated in the toll-line mileage.

117. If any person desires to use the public telephone at a toll station or post-office for the purpose of communicating over a private telephone-line connected therewith, such communication shall be charged for as a toll communication.

118. All toll communications on official business from officers of Government Departments, other than the Post and Telegraph Department, or from postal officers on behalf of other Departments, shall be charged for at the prescribed rates.

119. Any person shall not use a toll line for more than six minutes at a time if another applicant is waiting to use it. Should the wire not be asked for, then the person using it may continue to do so at tariff rates.

120. The Department will not undertake to refuse toll communications from any subscriber’s telephone, or to restrict in any way the hours, while the exchange is open, during which applications for toll communications may be made.