CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 12

CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT

EFFECT OF SOUND PICTURES.

POSTAL DEPARTMENT'S LOSS. With the advent of the "talkies" in Auckland a number of the most skilled men in the Post and Telegraph Department has been engaged by the Western Electric Company, the concern which has handled the installation of the talk-ing-picture apparatus in the two Auckland theatres which have been completed, and is carrying out further installation. work all over the Dominion. A staff of specially-trained men is necessary to carry out the wiring work necessary, and the policy of the New Zealand branch of the company has been to select local electricians for the positions.

It was found that the skilled workmen in the Post and Telegraph Department who bed charge of the automatic telephone mechanism, all highly-trained specialists, were well suited to the type of work involved in the "talkie" installation, and some of these men wero willing to take up the new positions, especially as a higher wage was offered. Some difficulty may he experienced by the department in filling their places, as the men who are leaving have all received extensive training before they reached their present state of competency. The engagement of these electricians by the "talkie" firm does not mean that they will supplant the operators at p'resent engaged at the theatres where sound-synchronised films are being shown. The new mechanics will bo employed either in the work of carrying out new installations all over tl'.o Dominion or as regular maintenance men at the call of the theatres in caso of breakdown. The theatres have an agreement by which the installing company is hound to keep a staff of repair specialists as "trouble men" in case of need. The regular operators at the theatres are all able to handle the mechanism which is connected with the ordinary type of projecting machine. It is stated that in home theatres the "talkies" have involved an addition to (he ordinary staff of the house, apart from the orchestra. In the case of the orchestras whose services have been dispensed with, it is stated that the majority of the players are not professional musicians, but are for the most part employed elsewhere in the daytime. Many have found positions in other orchestras or dance bands.