TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 8

TELEPHONE SERVICE.

LONG DISTANCE COMMUNICATION IMPROVEMENTS TO; BE INTRODUCED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, announced that the first long distance single channel carrier telephone system to be introduced l into the Dominion is to he brought into operation for commercial use on the Ohristcluurch-Wellington toll line on August 19. The equipment is installed at Christchurch and Seddon respectively, and will reduce delay on the calls between Christchurch and Wellington and between exchanges south of Christchurch and those north of Wellington. The improvement in transmission by the carrier method will now make it practicable for Dunedin, Tiuiaru, Greymonth. . Hokitika, Westport, Reef toil, and the smaller exchanges in the Tiniaru district to communicate during the whole of the 24 hours of the day with Wellington, Auckland, and all other exchanges in the North Island, except those north of Napier and Haxvera. The volume of speech between ’Wellington and Dunedin will, under the new conditions, lie equal to that now obtained between Wellington and Christchurch.

i While not practicable at this stage j to extend to exchanges south of D minim the full facilities for communicating with the North Island, a measure of assistance will be granted by making provision for Invercargill and Gore to communicate with the principal exchanges in the North Island between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and all day on Sundays. At an early date the carrier system or,its equivalent xvill be installed between Christchurch and Dunedin, xvhieli xvill give complete telephonic communication with the North Island for all exchanges in Otago. Further extensions and improvements throughout the Dominion will be effected during the next twelve months. Another instalment of the carrier system will give improved services over the Wellington-Aucklaiul section, and the instalment of the necessary equipment is noxx- in hand.