NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 5

NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD.

WANT AUTOMATIC 'PHONES

PRESENT SERVICE TO BE IMPROVED.

A pica for the installation of automatic telephones in Northcote and Birkenhead was made to-day to the Postmaster-General. Sir .lames Parr, by a deputation representing the two areas. Mr \. Harris. M.P.. who introduced the party. pointed out that the automatic telephone system bad been installed at Devonport and Takapuna. The residents of Northcote and Birkenhead felt they had a claim on the Department because their present service was not satisfactory, and was not sufficient for the needs of the district. He understood a guarantee of thirty subscribers was wanted from the two areas, which bad grown so large that they were ; n a position lo offer a guarantee of 100 subscribers. Mr. P. 11. Hayward, of Birkenhead, urged the abolition of the toll system lor" calls to Auckland. Mr. Cage, district telegraph engineer, said there were TlO subscribers at Birkenhead ami 23 at Northcote. At present they had a!) a.m. to ."> p.m. service. Tbe fee was £0 per year for a private 'phone as compared with £S 10/ in Auckland. Mr. Hayward pointed out that those wbo had night wires bad difficulty in getting through to town in cases of emergency. Mr. Sinister urged the extension of the night service, and Mr. Maxwell, a member of Northcote Borough Council, suggested the provision of a slot telephone to Auckland. Sir .lames said lie proposed to extend the hours of service so that the exchange would be open from 7 a.m. until il p.m.. With regard to tbe night wires, be understood the Department would be iv v position to arrange extra facilities, and be would look into the matter of a slot tele],hone. Where delays occurred these would be investigated if complaints were made promptly. Dealing with the proposal to instal automatic telephones, the Postmnsterfieneral said the expense was too heavy in view of the small number of subscribers concerned. The Post Oflice had to be run on business lines, and such a step as introducing automatic phones for Northcote and Birkenhead was not justified meantime. However, lie would go into the matter at headquarters, and give a full reply later.