POWER BREAKDOWNS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5121, 4 May 1927, Page 2

POWER BREAKDOWNS.

VALLEY SETTLERS’ DIFFICULTIES.

CONTINUOUS TELEPHONE NEEDED

Another argument in favour Of Paeroa having a continuous telephone service was advanced by Mr J. W. McCormick at yesterday’s meeting of the. Thames Valley Electric Power Board. He instanced how, on a recent Sunday morning just at milking time, a break-down in the power supply had occurred, necessitating the farmers in the Matatoki .area having to complete milking by hand. There was not only the inconvenience of having to resort to hand-milking, but there was the serious aspect of the- delay causing the farmers to miss the cream collecting waggon. When that happened a second-grade return invariably resulted. Mr McCormick said that the question of securing the troubleman at Turua on a Sunday morning was out of the question. An endeavour was then made to telephone the troubleman at Paeroa, but the time being 8 o’clock, it was not possible, to get in touch with him. Necessity knew no law, said Mr McCormick, so he got through to Te Aroha and a man was sent down from that depot, reaching the scene of the trouble within an hour.

The engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod) said that all the troublemen were connected with the telephone, but at that hour on a Sunday morning the Pae.roa telephone exchange would not be open.

Mr F. E. Flatt informed the meeting that representations had been made to the department, and it was hoped that Paeroa would have a continuous telephone service. In the meantime it might be possible to have the troubleman at Paeroa connected during the hours that tlie telephone ' exchange was closed, similar to the, doctors and fire brigade. The engineer said that such an arrangement would not be entertained by the postal officials. There was, however, a high tension telephone connected with the troubleman’s residence at the end of the road on which Mr McCormick’s farm was situated. Mr McCormick admitted this, but said that the difficulty was to find out who was holding the key to the box.

The engineer said that he would look into the matter and advise Mr McCormick in due course.