France 149 



\rersation between the same persons must not' exceed ten minutes 

 if others are waiting. The tariff is simple 50 centimes, =4'&/., 

 per 100 kilometers or fraction thereof, measured by the actual 

 length of the line. This is very high compared with the German 

 universal rate of is., and very low compared with the proposed 

 rates of the British Post Office. 



Between the hours of 9 P.M. and 7 A.M. in summer and 8 A.M. 

 in winter, the rate is reduced to 2*88^. per 100 kilometers. 



A particular trunk line may be engaged for any length of time 

 daily by paying in advance a monthly subscription based on the 

 unit rate of \'^2.d. per 100 kilometers per five minutes. Thus a 

 Parisian subscriber holding a five-minute talk with Lyons (600 

 kilometers) every evening would pay 1*92^. x6 x 30 = i/. 8s. q\d. 

 per month. Such talks are limited to the night hours. 



4. Rates for international trunk communication. To 

 England : Time unit, three minutes. Charge Ss. Only two 

 consecutive periods of three minutes allowed between the same 

 correspondents if others want the line. 



To Switzerland : see Swiss section, p. 385. 

 To Belgium : see Belgian section, p. 75. 



5. Rates for telephoning of telegrams. In all centres except 

 Paris and Lyons this service is free. In those towns, owing to a 

 large portion of the system being underground and consequently 

 more expensive, subscribers using the telegram facilities have to 

 pay an additional subscription of 2/. per annum. The telegram 

 charges are deducted from deposits made in advance. 



6. Rates for messages telephoned for local delivery. The 

 charge is 4-8^. per five minutes or fraction thereof occupied in 

 transmitting the message, irrespective of its length. 



7. Rates levied at public telephone stations. The time unit 

 for local and internal trunk talks is five minutes. A local talk 

 costs 4'8</. in Paris and 2 '<\d. in the provinces. Annual 

 subscriptions are accepted for the local use of all the public 

 stations in a town at the following rates : In Paris, 3/. 45-. ; in 

 Lyons, 2/. Ss. ; elsewhere, i/. i2s. 



The trunk rates are the same as from subscribers' offices. 

 Messages for local delivery may be telephoned from the public 

 stations at the same rates as from subscribers' offices. Payments 



