The Postmaster-General's decision to impose much higher charges for the
telephone service, without waiting for the House of Commons, has naturally raised a storm of angry protest. The Postmaster-General replied to his critics on Wednesday, contending that the new rates were only 80 per cent. higher than the rates before the war, whereas the cost of living had risen by 169 per cent. The notorious Index Figure is thus dragged in to justify not only the ever-increasing bonuses to Civil servants but also the heavy rise in telephone charges. There is something to be said for the abolition of the flat rate or fixed charge for an unlimited number of calla ; but it may be questioned whether the Post Office will save any money by charging each subscriber for the calls which he makes, because it will have to employ hundreds of new clerks to make out the accounts that have hitherto been unnecessary. It is widely believed that the telephone rates are being raised because the service has been badly managed by the Post Office. The contrast between the Hull municipal service and the State monopoly outside Hull is certainly remarkable, for the Hull telephones pay their way while the State service is run at a heavy loss.
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