AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1929, Page 2

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES

CHIEF ENGINEER REPLIES TO

C'R iTICISAI

WELLINGTON, Feb. M). The complaint made by the Canterbury Progress League, through its organiser, Air P. R. Climio, about the delay in opening the automatic telephone exchange in Christchurch, lias had a quick and decisive reply from Mr A. Gibbs, Chief Telegraph Engineer. “Over £150,000 has been spent in Christchurch in paving the way for the new automatic service, and we are certainly not going to throw it away because a couple of thousand pounds worth of material has not yc't arrived,” said Mr Gibbs when approached on the subject to-day. “Also, 1 do not agree with Air Climie’s suggestion that the department made a mistake when a departure from the Strowger system was made in favour of the Standard Telegraphs plant. 1 have had a wide experience, and though 1 know that the Strowger system has given satisfaction, the new system will give better service than ever 1*0 lore.” Mr Gibbs said that such delays were unfortunate, but were sure to happen on occasions, though Christchurch seemed to be particularly unlucky. It was absolutely necessary to have the whole of the machinery in working order before the switch-over was made. ‘.‘l assure that an undertaking such as this is easily the most complicated mechanical and engineering job tnat can he found anywhere,” continued Air Gibbs. “Once we really get started, however, when we ure satisfied that everything is in order, 'filings will move with some rapidity. “The present delay is due to the fact tnat the department was dissatisfied with the 19,000 cords which arrived with the other material sent forward by Standard Telegraphs. It was necessary to negotiate for some time before the company was satisfied that the cords which arrived here were defective and agreed to replace them. Then it was promised that the cords should he sent forward in different lots, 6000 at once, 5000 a little later, and so on. This promise was not kept, but again delivery was undertaken for a definite month. The cords failed to appear ami from month to month the department has been writing urging expedition. The latest advice is that the cords are on tile liner Tttinui, leaving Loudon this month.

“Alaterial of this nature is largely manufactured on the Continent, principally in Belgium, and the magnitude of the operations of the supplying company wll he realised from the fact that its issued stock totals more than the. national debt of New Zealand. Recently the company’s stock lias been reorganised possibly due to factors sucli as the failure to supply the Christchurch material.”