Telegraph Insulators Destroyed,

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 6

Telegraph Insulators Destroyed,

The wilful destruction of insulators on telegraph and telephone lines in New Zealand is a cause of serious loss tn the post office. Replacement of approximately 5000 damaged insulators every year means expense; but the more serious aspect is the danger of interference with important communications. The efficiency of the telegraph and telephone lines depends chiefly on the maintenance of a complete circuit for the electric currents, but if insulators are smashed the circuit is either greatly reduced in efficiency or breaks down altogether. This may happen at a time when messages of the greatest importance even involving human safety are passing over the wires. Many prosecutions for wilful destruction of these important links in the communication chain take place every year and the great majority of the delinquents are juveniles. Therefore, a timely word of advice by parents that their children should not use the telegraph lines as a test of markmanship would be officially appreciated.