FALSE “111”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 12

FALSE “111”

Action To Be Taken (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 3. False “111” emergency calls made in Wellington will now be traced and police action taken against the persons making them. The Director-General o£ the Post Office (Mr D. Donaldson) has issued this instruction to staffs handling the new emergency call system. Last week-end, 129 false calls were made on Saturday, and 47 on Sunday. There were only 81 genuine calls in the two days. Mr Donaldson pointed out that part of the “111” mechanism enabled Post Office operators to hold the call after the caller had rung off. This is to safeguard a person fainting, or being overcome by smoke, once the call has been initiated. Tracing Possible The Post Office can quickly trace “111” calls to their source, which will be done with false calls from now on. Wellington is the first •major metropolitan area to introduce the “111” emergency system. Mr Donaldson said today that the increasing incidence of false calls was serious and irresponsible. "In no other area have we had such a relatively high incidence of false calling.” he said. “Clearly, if this voluntary and vital public service is to operate efficiently to the benefit of people who genuinely need it, the false calling must be stopped,” he said.