Aust. tolls still slow

Press, 30 August 1978, Page 6

Aust. tolls still slow

Although New South Wales and South Australia Telecom technicians voted to lift all industrial bans yesterday afternoon — after talks between Telecom and union officials — New Zealand calls to Australia remained restricted last evening.

Only death, emergency and important Government calls were being accepted by International Tolls in Auckland last night. The operators were getting “reasonable access” to all states apart from New South Wales, according to the manager of the toll exchange in Auckland (Mr N. H. D. Jones). Mr Jones said that there was no backlog of calls as media publicity had put people off ringing except in emergencies. He expected a backlog to build up when the Australian operations were back to normal, but he had no idea when that would be. Technicians in Victoria, Queensland and Canberra yesterday accepted their Federal council’s recommendation to end their month-long dispute, but decided to maintain in= dustrial bans until Telecom clarifies which suspended ! technicians will be paid.

Soccer.— Liverpool. the Euro- < pean soccer champion for the ; last two seasons, was knocked out of the English League Cup, 1-0, by the second division team, Sheffield United, in a major upset at Sheffield. In the Scottish League Cup, second round, first leg, Montrose drew with East Stirling, 1-1.