Letter to Editor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 10, 9 August 1983, Page 1

Letter to Editor

On behalf of Raetihi Printing Company, I would like to apologise to any readers, whose sport or news report was affected by the necessary change of printing arrangements required for last week's issue of the Waimarino Bulletin. I would like to thank your management and staff for their patience and cooperation at a difficult time. May. I also take this opportunity to thank all those members of the Master Printer's Federation who, at very short notice, have ensured that your service to readers and advertisers, is being maintained, and customer services sustained.

Trevor

Ede

Letter to Editor page 2.

Letter to Editor

Identity crisis I write regarding the new telephone book listings, due out in the near future. These listings, according to the publicity you have provided, are preceded with the Ohakune telephone exchange prefix OKN. As a concerned citizen of this district I feel I should provide some subject matter for your readers to consider. 1. Whilst it will be technically refreshing to have use of an automatic telephone system, there will no doubt be some confusion with older folks trying to obtain a Raetihi number. Many of these older folk, who have identified Raetihi as a separate environment to that of Ohakune, will be confused when telephoning for Raetihi services. 2. Raetihi itself has a history of common rivalry with Ohakune and to state Raetihi as being- part of Ohakune (which the new listings seem to do), will provide an identity crisis. This loss of individual identity could perhaps best

be served with a cohesive district prefix to the listings, such as 'Waimarino'. This not only stops interborough rivalry, but would present a better public image of district harmony between the two boroughs. By calling ourselves the Waimarino Exchange we would be preventing any sign of individual borough independence or alleged superiority. 3. What sort of confusion will a Raetihian have when he describes himself as living in Raetihi but can be telephoned via Ohakune! And what could perplex outside people more? The Raetihi Borough Council will have a petition available in its office for folk of this district to vent their feelings of being dominated by the Ohakune exchange prefix. I would hope people will express their opinions more publicly before the event happens. For to do so afterwards be an exercise in wasWP

hindsight.

M.J.

Compton

Raetihi