TELEPHONE SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 17, 15 October 1920, Page 7

TELEPHONE SHORTAGE

STEADY IMPROVEMENT ANTICIPATED.

In a few months it is' hoped that thero will be a decided improvement in the telephone situation throughout New Zealand. Some improvement as regards materials is already being experienced, thanks to the energetic steps that have been taken by the Department, Poles aro coming to hand from Australia, and cross-arms are again being turned out in moderate quantities in Auckland ana Wellington Districts from New Zealand rata, but Australian supplies most commonly used for this work havo not yet been received in any quantity. Copper wire suitable for linking up the different telephone exchanges by means of trunfc linos is coming to hand, and there is also a sufficient quantity of the larger insulators used in connection with main lino work of this kind. Moderate supplies of small insulators for the smallei (magneto) types of , exchanges and foi private lines are being manufactured in New Zealand, and will be received shortly. Telephones are in fair supply, and as exchanges such as Hamilton are being cut-over to the automatic system, telephones suitable for tho magneto exchanges aro being released, relephon cables, wire, and insulators suitabfo tor extending the telephone circuits from theso cables to subscribers' premises are not yet in sight, but every effort is being made by the Chief Telegraph En. ffinecr, no\r in London, to expedite delivery of these essential items, extension in many of the bow Zealan centres is seriously hampered for want or While endeavouring to meet the needs flf the various centres, tho requirements of the back-block districts are not being lost sight of, and a number of private .telephone lines that have for some time beon held up for want of telephone and other accessories, aro now being suppliea with the material essential to their completion. In a number of special cases a seventh party hag been permitted to connect up temporarily with a six-party country telephone exohange _ line until such time as normal conditions obtain and other party lino arrangements con bo brought into force. In other c«sea local pole 9 that havo been provided by the settlers, but which on account ot their short life in the ground could not normally be permitted to form part of a pu'blio telephone line, are being erected as a temporary expedient.