PALMERSTON EXCHANGE IS WELL ABLE TO COPE WITH NEEDS OF TOWN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6852, 6 March 1929, Page 8

PALMERSTON EXCHANGE IS WELL ABLE TO COPE WITH NEEDS OF TOWN

No Waiting List AUTOMATIC SYSTEM SAVES LABOUR AND GETS RESULTS Compared with, some other cities in New Zealand, Palmerston North is singularly well treated in the way of telephones. The equipment installed in the exchange for the opening of the present automatic system in November, 1922, with additions that havo been made to it since, is more than capable ot handling the business offering with the result that at the present time, there is no such thing as a waiting list, for ’phone connections. The capital value of the plant at March, 1923, was £62,673; in the same month last year the figure was given as £111,148. The equipment at present in use comprises 2400 exclusive lines and 100 party lines, both fully automatic, and 110 rural lines of a semi-automatic nature, also 40 lines which are used for toll communications.

The capacity of the exchange room provides for the handling of 3,400 exclusive lines and 100 full automatic party lines, while steps are being taken to convert rural lines to full automatic working. Palmerston North’s wants for some years to come have been provided for in the planning of the exchange, which will handle up to 5400 lines with very little alteration. Information supplied by Mr A. Dawson, Chief Postmaster at Palmerston North, discloses the technical arrangement and apparatus in use can handle the heaviest business and at the same time give the public the satisfactory service it has been used to during the last six years. Electrical power is provided through a battery of 25 cells, with a capacity of 1700 ampere hours, the charging set for which comprises a 12 kilowatt generator driven by a 25 h.p. electric motor. As a standby in case of power interruptions, a 25 h.p. petrol motor is kept available. Motive power for shafting is supplied by five 1-8 h.p. motors. ' . In the last days of the manual ihones in Palmerston North, the exchange staff numbered 31. The new system is a labour saver, the present staff being 16, comprised of two supervisors, five toll operators and nine attendants. . For two years after the opening of the original exchange in 1892, one junior was able to manage the innovation and by the beginning of the present century, the business done only warranted the full-time employment of three officials.