Service Given By Telegraph Officers Praised By Pressmen

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23177, 13 February 1950, Page 4

Service Given By Telegraph Officers Praised By Pressmen

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. Although Its capacity was severely tested by overseas newspapermen on the several days of the Empire Games the Post and Telegraph Department won their admiration for the manner in which their messages were sent quickly to many corners of the world. Working in conjunction with Cable and Wireless, Limited, the department handled about 500,000 words of overseas press copy in addition to the ordinary daily traffic in the period immediately before the Games and while the programme was being held. That total was almost as much as the month's normal commercial traffic. Arrangements for the handling of overseas press copy were made by the tele-communications committee of which the chairman was Mr. G. L. Agar, district engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department. Bv arrangement with London, Montreal and Sydney, Auckland had the use of the fastest outlets available. As far as possible use was made of wireless circuits for ordinary purposes, so that the cable route out of Auckland could be used mainly for press messages.

Press copy for overseas was being received from 34 journalists and close team work within the department was necessary to get their material away without delay. On the opening day the staff had to deal with 73,000 words of press copy.

One of the overseas journalists who has covered many large international sports gatherings, including past Empire Games and Olympic Games, said he was amazed at the efficiency which had been shown bv the authorities in handling flic great bulk of messages. Tie said he had not previously seen anything better and he was also impressed with the co-operation received from the Post and Telegraph Department's staff.

“In Daughter’s Footsteps” It was a case of a father following in his daughter’s footsteps instead of the reverse according to the old saying, said Mr. E. S. Rutherford in the Stratford Magistrate’s Court. On behalf of members of the Bar he was farewelling the New Plymouth Magistrate, Mr. W. H. Woodward, who, with Mrs. Woodward, is on the eve of his departure overseas on a six months’ tour.

Bitumen Lorry Destroyed A lorry under contract to the Hawke’s Bay County Council carrying a council bitumen plant was destroyed in a lire at Okawa, about 12 miles from Hastings. Boiling tar from a burst feed pipe leading from a tank on the lorry to a sprayer ignited, and the vehicle soon became enveloped in fiames.