NEW TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1946, Page 4

NEW TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

WILL NOT INCREASE CONNECTIONS Many people appear to be :under a misapprehension regarding the proposed new telephone exchange which will be erected in the near future, states the postmaster (Mr. L. A. Whitham) . The -new equipment, which is modern :manual not automatic, will give a much improyed service from the switchboard, enabling one operator to contact all numbers on all the switchboards without the assistahce of a second operator as at present. However, the new equipment will not ease the position in regard to the connection of some 130 waiting applicants for telephones. It will be realised that it is impossible for obvious reasons to bring all telephone wires right to the post office. The practice is to run a cable containing say 50 pairs of wires to a point about half-a-mile away. From this point the wires radiate to the various residences, etc., in which telephones §„re connected. The telephone system in Levin is suffering from "growing pains" necessitating the running of much extra cabling which has been difficult to procure. However, the departments' engineers have the matter well in hand and it is ihoped to make an eafly start with the installation of ample cable in the near future. Staffs are being steadily built up and telephones will be installed as quickly as cable accommodation is available.