The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY, 29, 1927. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, JANUARY, 29, 1927. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawora, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa Eltham, Mangatoki. Kaponga. AU*n Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Molcoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road and Ararata.

To-dav the manual telephone switchboard in the Hawera Exchange will be superseded by the automatic system, adding one more modern service to those already enjoyed by this town. Though the change has been made in conformity with the policy of a Government department, and did not spring front civic enterprise, the town of Hawera has every reason to be proud of the fact that to its other public services which have been established as the result of the vision and courage of its citizens has been added another

which brings it into line with more populous centres. The installation of the automatic telephone system has given an opportunity to various towns in the Dominion to claim that they have progressed further in one respect at least than either London or Sydney. This claim, while always made in semihumorous vein, is based on truth, and because it is true it would probably not appeal to the Londoner or the Sydney subscriber in the same light, for in both those cities the public is subjected to all the inconvenience of the old system of telephone communication operated by hand. So long as any such system depends for its efficiency upon human control there will be a liability to error, causing delay and annoyance. However, though telephone subscribers are prone to be exacting and even unreasonable in moments of exasperation, in their calmer moments they would not dream of demanding that the personnel of the staffs which serve them should be less subject to human frailties than themselves. The ideal from which springs the wonderful development of automatic and mechanical devices may be summed up in the phrase “better service,” and if, as is practically always the ease, the better service to the larger number has as a Corollary the improvement of the conditions of the smaller number, .or the workers in that service, it calls more loudly than ever for our admiration. It is our good fortune that some, if not yet all, of our State departments have arrived at the stage where they recognise “service” as an ideal worthy of achievement in itself, and so long as it has a businesslike foundation, developing upon increased returns as a result of increased efficiency, rather than drawing upon the resources of the State for its support, the ideal is just as worthy in a government department as in an individual. The new spirit has developed noticeably in the Post and Telegraph Department, and in the main its results have met with the appreciation of the public. A desire to meet the revenue-producing public half-way has been made manifest, and the department can claim that it has proved, 'by the manner in which *it has pushed forward the installation of the automatic- telephone system, that its j>romises of ‘Hjetter service” have not meant merely lip-service. It is showing the way to older and larger Countries in at least one feature of its work, and it has proved that it has officers who are capable of gaining by the experience of other parts of. the world and of giving their own country the benefit of their knowledge. A most encouraging sign is the tendency 'to allow the various officers of the department to become more accessible to the public. District engineers have shown, themselves ready to hear and consider the suggestions of the public as to the manner in which the service

'might be made of greater value to those who have greatest use for it, and postmasters have proved that, when released from of the restrictions which earlier confined their activities to ? purely official channels, they are

men of understanding and vision and *broad sympathy. This introduction of the personal touch into departmental dealings with the public is of the 'utmost value and will, when backed by the authority and ability to follow up contact with achievement, do more than anything else towards bringing greater revenue to the department and rendering better service to the community. The invitation given to members of the Ilawera Chamber of •Commerce to inspect the new automatic installation- last evening provided an example of the manner in which the department can get into close touch with its customers through the courtesy of its officers, and the appreciation expressed by the visitors of the arrangements made for their benefit by the postmaster provided proof that the users of the service are not unmindful of any consideration shown them.