XN000022-1976-05-26 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1976

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IN THIS CONNECTION, MR. JONES ADDED THAT THE COMPANY HAD INTRODUCED THE LOWER INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL CHARGES LAST NOVEMBER, AND IT HAD RECENTLY REFUNDED THOSE SUBSCRIBERS WHO HAD ALREADY PAID THE HIGHER CHARGES.

THE SECOND AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HE CONTINUED, WOULD PROVIDE THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRESENT TELEPHONE ORDINANCE BY A MORE UP-TO-DATE ONE.

+THIS WILL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO A PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME AND PROVIDE FOR BOTH TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL MONITORING OF THE COMPANY'S SERVICES. WORK IS NOW PROCEEDING ON DRAWING UP DETAILED DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TELEPHONE SERVICES BILL AND ITS PREPARATION WILL PROCEED WITH ALL DUE SPEED.+

HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY ON THE DETAILS OF THE SCHEME OF CONTROL HAD BEEN CONCLUDED AND THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED ON ALL POINTS.

THE SCHEME, AS AGREED, COMPRISED ALL THE OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS MOST OF THE DETAILED PROPOSALS ON THE EXACT FIGURES TO BE USED. AND ONLY THREE MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE COMMISSION'S BLUEPRINT, HE SAID.

MR. JONES ADDED THAT THE SCHEME WAS BEING BROUGHT INTO OPERATION WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1976 BY AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY.

REFERRING TO THE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE COMPANY'S SERVICES, HE SAID STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN THE MACHINERY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES WITHIN THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT, AND ONE FULL TIME ACCOUNTANT HAD NOW BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE BRANCH.

+FOLLOWING THESE CHANGES, THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH IS NOW REGULARLY CHECKING THE TELEPHONE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY.

+THE FORECASTS OF DEMAND FOR TELEPHONES HAVE ALSO BECOME THE SUBJECT OF REGULAR CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, WHICH IS ALSO UTILISING THE SERVICES OF ITS PROFESSIONAL ECONOMISTS FOR THIS PURPOSE,+ HE SAID.

ON THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO STRENGTHEN THE STAFF OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION OF THE POST OFFICE TO CARRY OUT TECHNICAL MONITORING OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS, MR. JONES SAID THIS WAS NOW IN HAND AND THE NECESSARY POSTS WERE BEING CREATED WITHIN THE POST OFFICE.

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