WHEN ELECTRIC POWER FAILS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 55, 6 November 1924, Page 2

WHEN ELECTRIC POWER FAILS.

NOTIFYING THE TROUBLE. Outback Farmers’ Difficulty. The difficulty which the backblock farmer has in notifying breakdowns in connection with the supply of electric power to his milking plant has led the Thames Valley Electric Power Board to consider the advisability of giving- all farmer consumers the greatest possible convenience in the way of telephonic communication with troublemen. The matter arose out of a letter from Mr. R. McKenzie, of Tirau, whose power had b.?en interrupted and who had experienced difficulty in getting in touch with the troubleman. Mr. Price considered that some-i thing could be done in giving the outlying places communication with troublemen when the telephone services were suspended. Many exchanges were not open when the farmer mostly desired communication with the troubleman Mr. McLeod (engineer) said it might be possible to have the troublemen connected with the exchange when it was closed. The manager (Mr. Sprague) said that where there was a doctor connected with the exchange this could not be done. Mr. Price suggested that connection could be given with the nearest factory, from which a communication could be sent to the troubleman. Mr. Anderson considered that the quickest way to get hold of a troubleman was to go and fetch him.

Mr. Price said the board should have only married men as troublemen as a single man would always be “ running round ” but when a man was married there would be somebody at home. The Chairman: We are now building houses big enough for married men. On the motion of Mr. Flatt the matter was referred to the engineer for a report at the next meeting.