ABNORMAL DEMANDS ON TELEPHONE SERVICE ON COAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1948, Page 2

ABNORMAL DEMANDS ON TELEPHONE SERVICE ON COAST

Yesterday was a “black Monday for the staff of the Greymouth telephone exchange, with exceptional congestion on toll and local circuits. With a depleted staff, through sickness, the exchange experienced its busiest day since the Christmas rush period and there was no i espite for the attendants. The demand on the telegraphic service was also heavy and at one stage during the day special arrangements had to be made for the delivery of local telegrams. Post Office officials were unable to ascribe the busy day to any paiticular cause. It was thought, however, that departmental notifications of the itinerary for the Royal tour, business uncertainty as a result of the exchange rate change and travel in connection with the school holidays all contributed to the heavy demand for toll calls. Locally, the opening of the competitions festival possibly had an effect. The congestion was particularly noticeable on West Coast toll circuits. During the morning the three Hokii tika lines were over-taxed and Grey- | mouth telephone subscribers had to wait up to threequarters of an hour for calls to Hokitika. For some considerable time the Greymouth-Hoki-tika toll circuit has been overloaded and it is considered by departmental officials that the provision of extra lines between the two towns .will be given a priority when materials are available. The three lines have also to handlq toll traffic to and from South Westland and this traffic, which is increasing. places an extra strain on the circuit and is frequently responsible for delays in Greymouth-Hokitika calls. The Reefton lines were also exceptionally busy yesterday and delays of up to half an hour were experienced by Greymouth callers. As a general rule, Reefton calls can be obtained quickly and the delays yesterday were indicative of the general congestion in the exchange. The fact that a line gang is working in the Grey Valley, in connection with the installation of the automatic exchange at Ahaura possibly contributed to the delays to north calls. Toll traffic was again heavy this morning but the delays were not as great as yesterday.