ye What the Company is Doing to Improve System We have received the following statement from the—Shanghai Mutual Telephone Ca. answering the allegations of some of its critics and stating what is being done to remedy the faults complained of:—
The directors of the company, having called for a report from Mr.
Haynes Wilson, acting engineer~ in-chief of the company. now make the following statement:—
Concerning the recent statements in the press to the effect that the automatic system installed in Shanghai is obsolete—this is absolutely, contrary' to fact. The apparatus installed is constructed in accordtance with the latest rotary design.
In onder to counteract the excessive humidity in Shanghai, it was originally thought desirable' to introduce a departure from standard rotary eiveuit design and use 24 instead of 48 volts. The use of 24 volts is not technically unsound but} fas ale reconditioning plant can now be purchased at a reasonable pri it has been decided that all new auc tomatic exchanges installed shall] operate on 48 volts thus enabling the Company to obtain standard apparatus with economic advantages.
There is little to choose between the "automatic systems on the market, all having been perfected far as possible by expert tel phone engineers. The advantage of the rotary over others is admitted by all independent experts to be its ibility and its peculiar adaptabi to areas where the growth is erratic and uncertain.
A Misstatement of Pret Regarding the made that the Britis jected the system installed Shanghai—this is a misstatement of fact and cannot have been made anyone familiar with the Shang-hho apparatus, The directors are extremely concerned ut the present condition of the company's service and no effort and no expense is being spared to remedy defects. The difficulties which the Company has to contend: with are 1, The recent rapid growth of company which it was impossible to foresee:
2% The exceptional traffic load which the company is experiencing and with which, the plant which the company has installed to date, is tanable to cope.
The condition of the outside plant which necessitates its complete} overhauling.
What is being Done 'The steps being taken by the com. pany to meet its difficulties are:—A special department has been inaugurated to study' the growth and possible requirements of the company, now and in the future, meet the exceptional traffic Toad the company has alves arrangements for the b two new Exchanges and plant being ordered for the installati which will distribute the traffic and relieve the load on the existing; plant.
An extension of the automatic installation in the Central Exchange! will be complete by September 1, and will ease the present traffic! congestion, 2 The combat is now making arrangements to have the whole of the outside plant thoroughly overhauled and. reconditioned and this! work is being proceeded with and Will be completed as quickly as possible, 'An inherent difficulty in the operation of the service is the use by subscribers of many different languages and dialects, This matter is engag-the directors' serious attention.
The directors would also state that in the development of a telephone service a very large capital expenditure is necessary and during the past five or six years the ques~ tion of raising mew capital has been very difficult. Matters have improved in this respect, however. and the Company is at present nego gon this question.
By Order of the Directors, (signed) C. W. Porter, C8.
Secretary & General Manager.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.