“Formidable Task” Of Post Office Engineer

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 24

“Formidable Task” Of Post Office Engineer

The problem of eliminating the Christchurch telephone waiting-list “is a formidable task and will require all the resources of money, men; materials and equipment which the Post Office can make available,” the new regional engineer. Christchurch (Mr L. D. Bewley), said yesterday. Mr Bewley spent the day talking with his predecessor. Mr S. M. Reynolds, who will

leave tomorrow on promotion to Wellington. “On Friday we made a big cut-over which finally eliminated the waiting-list in Dunedin, where I was divisional engineer, and now I find myself faced* with an even bigger job here than there was down there,” said Mr Bewley. City Extensions Much work had already gone into the planning of major extensions for Christchurch, and his main job would be to ensure that everything went through as arranged. Mr Bewley added. The engineering branch of the Post Office was not one where progress could be demonstrated overnight. It often took three years or more between the time plans were made and the time subscribers were connected. The exchange and other equipment had to be ordered from overseas. Mr Bewley's responsibilities as regional engineer will cover the whole of the South Island except the Nelson engineering district, but he will have his major interests tn the Christchurch area. He will riot take up his duties until about the end of next month, because he is the engineering representative on the departmental regrading committee which is reviewing the staff executive structure of the Post Office. Mr Bewley was educated at the King Edward Technical College. Dunedin, and at the University of Otago. He entered the Post Office as an engineering cadet in Dunedin in 1934. In 1946 he was transferred to the engineer-in-chiefs office, Wellington, where he worked in the field section. Seven years later he became supervising engineer. Wellington, taking charge of cabling work in the city. He became Lower Hutt’s first district engineer in 1955. and then in June, 1957. was appointed to his former position in Dunedin. Until Mr Bewley takes up his new duties, the Christchurch divisional engineer (Mr D M. McFarlane), will be acting-regional engineer.