TELEPHONE TROUBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17844, 27 July 1921, Page 8

TELEPHONE TROUBLES.

IMPATIENT SUBSCRIBERS. INSTRUMENTS TORN' OFF WALL. Giving evidence in Melbourne before jthe Comfficnwealth Public Service Arbitrator, Mr. Atlee Hunt, regarding the wages claims of the Australian Postal Electricians' Union, Thomas Goodall, a senior mechanic, said he had known subscribers tear their telephone instrument off the wall in their impatience. Lines •were constantly being overhauled by mechanics, because of the unreasonable treatment of the. instruments by subEcribars in their efforts to obtain service. The union asked for double pay for Sun!dav work. . The Arbitrator; Is that a demand for ' fcompensation for the department's intrufeion into your Sunday observance_ and your rebgious convictions, or for interference with your personal convenience! Witness: I should ■say it would be partly on religious grounds. The Arbitrator: What! Can one compensate a man in cash for violation of his xcligious convictions? R. H. Wraith, senior mechanic, in support of a claim for "dirt money," described the effects of eulphurio acid, which, arose from the cleaning and recharging of storage batteries. The acid destroyed boots and clothing, and worked through the pores of! the skin in such a Tvay as to blacken any silverware or' silver coin with which the mechanic's hand came in contact within 72' hours.