FAULTY TELEPHONE SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 6

FAULTY TELEPHONE SERVICE

Sir,—May I be permitted to comment on the letter from "3 Short" in your issue of May M with regard to trowblo with the Eketahuna telephone exchange? I am more anxious to do so because, my ring being 3 short, tho letter is being' placed to my credit—or discredit; it all depends 011 tho point of view. I agreo u with "3 Short" that there is great cause for complaint, and also that the trouble lies principally in lack

of supervision, which, of course, naturally makes for slackness ill the exchange. But the carelejsuess and discourtesy only occur at certain times of the 'day and with certain members of the staff. Some of them aro satisfactory, V and with those wo have no quarrel. I do not agree with "3 Short" on the matter of tangling of lines: it was eo 6ome time ago, but has been improved. There is little cause for complaint with regard to the line—in fact, I think Eketahuaia in fortunate in its lineman; but tho best, lineman in the world cannot prevent weather causing trouble,, particularly when lines were badly erected in the first, place. Moreover, a great deal* of the contact on private or party lines is the result of lack of supervision by the owners themselves. To look at'some of the .party links round Eketahuna mates one wonclcr not that there is so much contact, but that there is any communication at all. But that does not excuse the trouble in the office. Away back in January, on behalf of a number of subscribers, I brought the' matter very strongly before the Director of Telephone Services, and the reply was that tho matter would be looked into and. I would, be advised when it jvas put right. I am still waiting for that advice, and will doubt it when it comes, because there i® practically no •improvement. The reply was the usual Departmental shelving! but I can tell him, Sir, that party-line owners are so sick of existing conditions that an association is being formed that will see that the question is not shelved, and that tho proper remedy is applied In the prober quarter.—l am, etc., FEED; G: CARSON. ' Kaiparoro, May 15, 1919. '

Sir-May I crave a little of your spaM to answer a letter which appeared in Wednesday's /issue of your . paper? A correspondent signing himself "3, Shorr wrote complaining of lack of attention on the part of the exchange clprks. _ Perhaps had "3 Short" ever been inside the local exchange and seen for himself what the attendants have to do and the conditions under which they work, lie,might understand why subscribers ate sometimes 'kept waiting. For the information of himself and others, let ms point out that fnere is only one operator . on dutv at a time, and he has to attend to 400* subscribers and 15 bureau stations. On receipt of a toll message he has. to enter on'ti card the subscribers ' teleplione numbor end his name, tho number he wishes to be connected with, including the name of the towii and tho distance between tho two places. The card is theif put in a recording-clock, and. after the message is finished the operator has to compute the amount to be charged. While he is thus engaged, possibly a dozen or more subscribers have lung. Tho. operator answers as fast as be can, but, of course,,someone has to be the la§t. A lot of delay ie also caused by subscribers neglectiiig to ring off after a conversation, making it necessary for tho operator' Jt> 'be continually, testing Ills lines. More delay is caused by scores,of people ringing up to ask the time at all hours of the day and night. Now, Sir, a word or two about the conditions under which these men have to work. The exchange is n poky little place , about 12ft. by 12ft., which is used by the whole of tho post office staff as a dressing-room, owing to the fact that there is no other place for the purpose. For the 6ame reason it is practically a thoroughfare from tho street to the mail- > room, both doors being continually left open. During wet weather the roof leaks and the floor is under water, and to cap the lot, there ,is no fire or heating .arrangements of any sort. Truly a delightful spot .for anyono to have to work in. With ono exception, all the operators are relumed soldiers who have done their "bit" for their country, and consequently are not as lit a? they would like to be; indeed, tht-y are often so cold while on duty that "it is almost impossible to handle the plugs, let alone answer quickly. There is not much chanco of getting warm, either, for if they leave the ex- , .change for an instant they are liable to ■"dismissal. Trusting you will be ablo to find space for these lines,—l am, etc., . NEARLY FROZEN STIFF. Eketah.unaT May 16.