PHONEY PHONING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 50, 22 November 1937, Page 6

PHONEY PHONING

How Hastings Household Was "Had" Patiently extracting a few stray weeds from a well-kept residential garden a Hastings householder was called to answer a persistent ringing of his telephone and the conversation was something along the following lines: — Voice Over Phone': Is that ? 'Householder: Yes, speaking. V.O.P.: This is the . World- Wide Telephone Testing Service speaking and We are anxious to test out the efficiency of your phone. Would you be gpod enough to assist' us? Householder:- Certainly, though this phone is quite a good one. V.O.P.: We appreciate that, sir, but would you please stand on the right hand side of your phone and say "R," Householder dutifully moves to the right hand .side and says "R". V.O.P.: Little louder please ? Householder: R-r-r. V.O.P.: Now repeat from the left hand side please. Householder: R-r-r. V.O.P.: Please stand a foot away from the mouthpiece now and repeat? Householder, beginning to get a little annoyed: Shall I measure it off? V.O.P.: Oh, don't bother to do that, apprdximately will do. Householder: Oh THANK you, Era-a-a-a. . "And THANK You.— Now stand on your head and repeat it!" said the V.O.P., and promptly closed off the conversation, leaving an irate nouseholder but no choice other than to appreciate the fact that a friend had mistaken yesterday for April 1.