Automatic Telephones.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19725, 16 September 1929, Page 8

Automatic Telephones.

The change in the Christchurch telephone system, on Saturday night, from manual to automatic operation, ended a long and trying delay. The first negotiations to give Chris tchnrch the advantages of the more modem method of conducting telephone communicar tions took place as far back as 1014; and in 1915 a tender was actually accepted for the supply of the necessary equipment. The War dislocated all plans; and a prolonged delay followed. It was difficult to secure delivery of the new equipment In the meantime the growth of the City and the increasing demand for telephonic facilities made it necessary to adopt a much more elaborate service than was at first proposed; and further time was needed to carry out the larger work. The present Postmaster-General, the Hon. Mr Donald, when he took over from his predecessor, did not overlook the importance of completing the change as early as possible; and the promise given by him in March last, that the new system would become available for use in September, has been redeemed. Although Chrotchurch is the last of the four centres to be provided with a full automatic exchange the period of waiting has not been without compensations. Equipment of a superior and more up-to-date quality has been installed and the experience of the

other cities has become available to give Christehurch an easier change over. Very little oonfu3ion, it seems, was suffered yesterday when the dialling Astern came into general use; and Chnstchurch may and will congratulate itself if the untoward experiences of other centres following the change are not repeated here. While progress brings benefits, it sometimes demands severe sacrifices; and it is therefore pleasant to learn from Mr Donald that the exchange staff, displaced by the automatic machines, will not be thrown oat of work, as people who remember their useful service may have feared. With the advent of the new system Christchnrcb makes another notable advance in the quality of its pnblic ntilities and in telephonic communication is now as np to date as any city anywhere.