Ohakune Exchange goes automatic

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 43, 17 April 1984, Page 1

Ohakune Exchange goes automatic

At 11.25am on Tuesday 10 April, Ohakune entered the new telecommunications age when King Country MP Mr Jim Bolger made the first call on the $640,000 automatic telephone exchange. In a ceremony held at the Ohakune Club, Mr Bolger used the new system to contact one of Ohakune's oldest and most respected citizens, 84-year old Mr Eric Fetzer. The cutover was delayed an houras Mr Bolger's flight from Invercargill was held up in •Mellington. Upon his arrival, 'pils from Ruapehu College presented the ladies at the official table with bouquets of flowers. The officials included Mr Swarbrick, the Ohakune Postmaster, Mr Wishart, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief PO Headquarters, Mr Odell, District Engineer Wanganui, Mr Salter, Acting Chief Postmaster, Wanganui and Mr Bill Taylor, Mayor of Ohakune. Mr Taylor opened the proceedings by welcoming officials and guests. He emphasised the pride felt by all Ohakune residents with the Post Office's decision to install such a modern facility but also commented on the sadness felt generally at the passing of the operator system. He then invited Mr Wishart to speak. Jflfcral services ^^Klr Wishart explained many of the more technical benefits of the exchange and commented that the Ohakune cutover was part of the Post Office's wider plan to upgrade facilities for rural subscribers. In the past much work has been done in urban areas but now about one third of the Post Office's capital investment programme is used to improve rural subscribers' services. Mr Wishart then thanked all those Post Office staff who had worked so hard to bring the telephone project to a successful conclusion. Mr Bolger, next to speak, apologised for his lateness and then emphasised his pride at being present at such a momentous occasion. Historic associations "The association between Ohakune and the Post Office is a long one" said Mr Bolger, "in fact Ohakune had mail deliveries for at least ten years before an offical Post Office opened. The Government's Survey

Department, working in the area delivered mail from Napier to the settlers struggling to clear their bush-covered land around Ohakune. A prompt reply to a letter from Napier would take a fortnight. Some people might say not much has changed" quipped Mr Bolger. Continuing the historical theme Mr Bolger informed the audience that the first permanent building in Ohakune was a two storey store and Post Office owned and operated by George Frederick Manson, and compieted in 1 894.

"Mr Manson in fact worked for three years with no pay, but in 1 897 he was given a salary of £6 per year. I'd like to know how that was accomplished"said Mr Bolger "as I'm sure Mr Knox in Wellington would be interested." "A telephone office which gave Ohakune a toll service through the Wanganui exchange was opened on 5 April 1 900, but it was not until 10 June 1910 that Ohakune received its first telephone exchange, serving forty subscribers." "Today, at cutover 754 subscribers will be receiving an automatic telephone service.

Only twenty of these subscribers will remain on multi-party lines" Mr Bolger stated. "However it is a far cry from the antiquated switchboards, which when they were installed were also the most modern available, but are today earmarked as historical items" he added. Exchange staff thanked In summing up, Mr Bolger joined other officials in mourning the demise of the friendly personal service given by the manual exchange telephone operators and thanked them on behalf of everyone in Ohakune for their courteous and efficient service. He also thanked all involved in the project and those who'organised the function. Cutover takes place Mr Taylor then invited Mr Odell to initiate the cutover. Using one of the earlier types .of telephones, Mr Odell rang through to the exchange and requested the change from manual to automatic exchange to be made. First call made Mr Bolger then used a more modern digital phone to call Mr Fetzer, who had been able to hear the whole ceremony at his home " through another Post Office innovation. Mr Fetzer recalled many of the historical details from Mr Bolger's speech and was obviously thrilled at the great honour of being the first to speak on the new exchange. Mr Bolger then unveiled the commemmorative plaque and with that the ceremony concluded. Many of the guests then rushed away to try out their automatic STD and ISD teleohones.

Mary

Anne Gill