Party Telephone Misuse Charged At Kaitaia

Northern Advocate, 12 May 1939, Page 7

Party Telephone Misuse Charged At Kaitaia

[Special to “Northern Advocate’’] KAITAIA, This Day.

Subscribers on party telephone lines appear to have very questionable privileges in some districts.

Some years ago a few people at Ahipara made arrangements for a party line. All went well for a time and the service was entirely’satisfactory, but the district holds a large Maori population and, one after another, Maoris applied for a telephone connection.

Without the original subscribers being given an opportunity to speak on the subject, they were put on a line with a number of others and their rings and numbers were altered. This would not be so bad, state the subscribers, but most of the telephones on the line are in the homes of Maoris, who make such frequent use of their privileges, and conduct such long conversations, that it is very difficult for the original subscribers to get reasonable use of the line. Reluctance to Complain. The conversations, according to one man, go on day and night. There are rules and regulations for stopping abuses, but telephone users are reluctant about laying complaints and often do not know against whom they can complain. When this question came before the Farmers’ Union meeting at Kaitaia, a member mentioned that formerly when a party line had been established no one could later get a conversation on the line without the consent of all the subscribers using it. He had himself, he said, been refused a connection because one man objected. The following remit was passed on the motion of Mr J. C. Marsh: “That where subscribers to a party iine are united by community interests the subscribers on such line shall not be transferred to another line without their consent.”

Methodist Church Community Sing

There was a fair attendance at the second community sing of the season held in the Methodist Church on Thursday evening under the leadership of Mr M. Edgar and Mr C. Smith, An enjoyable evening resulted, items being given by Messrs G. Tolley; R. Tweedie, C. Smith and Misses Iris Edmonston and Dorothy Cochrane. Music was supplied by Mrs J, Spark and Mr Tolley. ' .

Cars In Collision Near Kaikohe

Two motor vehicles collided Oh the Taheke-Kaikohe highway, a (little north of Taheke on Thursday morning as the result, it is stated, of dangerous metal on the road. The two cars were travelling at a slow pace, and. one vehicle had just rounded a bend which the other was approaching from the opposite direction. when the impact occurred. No one was injured, and both vehicles were able to proceed under their own power.

Complaints have been received from motorists on previous occasions, that this road is dangerous in parts owing to the slippery surface.