CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1935, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

GETTING THE TIME

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —This morning I had the misfortune to wake and find the household time-service out of. gear: in other words, both clock and watch had stopped. Relying on the courtesy and service of the P. and T. Department, I rang up "information" and asked for the time. I got courtesy, but no service. The officer politely declined to tell me the time. He said it was forbidden. I asked whether he could tell me whom I could ring up; he replied that he was sorry he could give no information about .the time. He •agreed with me when I said it might be a good idea to call up the Hector Observatory—but it was obviously too early for that. He explained that the rule against giving information about the time dated from the cancellation of the "time service" in the Exchange —a service which I understand was cut out because it was; too popular. I should have rung up the PostmasterGeneral but for the certainty that the inconvenience of the early call would have fallen upon an innocent domestic instead of upon the Minister. As it was, I had to trouble a neighbour, who was. more obliging than the Department. I think this piece of red-tape is one that should be cut immediately.—l am «tc, j SUMMER TIME. The reasons why the time service had been discontinued, said the Director-General of the Post Office (Mr: G. McNamara) today, were chiefly on the grounds of economy, but also' because the service had been abused, "It cost the Department the services of five or six girls in cities like Wellington and 'Auckland,1' he said. "When the extent of the service which was given at all centres is considered, the cost was considerable. It. may be said that the same service is given in other] countries, and that is true, but in every I other country it costs from l£d to ljd | per call from the house. The "public I were largely responsible for the dis-j continuance of the time service | through its abuse. Children were' allowed to ring up to amuse'them-1 selves. We would be very glad to give, the service at ljd per call."