THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 3

THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

A.,SUGGESTION. A prominent. Government official makes a suggestion in the matter of telephone attendance during a big fire. After the firo broke out tho other morning, and lits truo significance began to dawn upon people, the telephone was called into use by dozens of Speople,' who wished to ring up others connected in some way or father with tho Buildings or the Government, and apart from the actual and' urgent need of such business being attended to, there were hundreds of others making enquiries, not only from exchange, brigade, and police, but from thoso living in the- locality of the big blaze. Doubtless those on duty had a difficult task in trying to attend tn all callers, and, under the circumstances, they did very well, but ■ they could not possibly attend to every one. Tho result was that some people were not attendod to, and, if tliev were, the answer in some instances was "Parliamentary Buildings" before they gave a number, the attendant anticipating that they wished to know where tlio lire was. The suggestion made is that there should ho inaugurated some system whereby a str.fl' of attendants could be called up in an emergency such as , occurred the other evening, those to be members. of tho staff living nearest to the exchange. They would, of course, be paid for extra duty. A few weeks ago Tin: Dominion had some particulars of the proposed now telephone exchange for Wellington, that is to be fitted to cope with 10,000 subscribers, > on the common' battery principle. When 1 the time conies to erect the new building, ■ sonic provision should be made for certain members of the staff—single men for preference—to sice]) on the premises, so as to bo handy in case of a pressure. Telephonic emergencies are hound to increase'with the growth of the city, and some such arrangement will eventually be. absolutely' necessary.