CITY SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23162, 7 October 1938, Page 4

CITY SERVICES

PUBLIC TELEPHONES

CAUSE OF BREAKDOWNS CIVIC LEAGUE MEETING Several letters wore received bv. the Civic League at its monthly meeting yesterday in reply to its requests for the improvement of various oit.v services. The president, Mrs. Kenneth Gordon, presided. The district engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department, wrote referring to breakdowns in public call office telephones, He stated that the department's organisation provided for the regular inspection of public call office telephones. In Auckland there were about 287 of these machines in operation and every one in the area was subjected to an inspection and test daily from Monday to Friday inclusive. Wilful Destruction * Those in the busy aroas, the letter continued, were also cleaned daily. Apart from normal wear and tear, considerable inconvenience both to the public and to the department was caused by those misguided individuals who wilfully destroyed the directories and instruments, and who rendered the machines inoperative by inserting foreign objects or bent coins in the coin apertures. As time progressed the recent intensified maintenance procedure would reflect in an even higher standard of service. The Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department also wrote in reply, to the league's request for the establishment of four stamp-Vending machines at certain points in the Remuera district. His letter stated that two tradespeople had agreed to take out a licence to sell stamps at two of the points . mentioned, but the establishment of stamp-vending machines at the other two points referred to was not considered to bo warranted. Condition of Tramcars

The medical officer of health, Dr. T. •f. Hughes, replied to the league's letter concerning the dirty condition of Auckland tramcars. Ho stated that arrangements had been made to keep cars under observation with a view to further action being taken. Ho pointed out, at tho samo time, that the public also had a responsibility in this matter. The Minister of Transport, Hon. It. Semple, wrote a letter to tho league in which he stated that its suggestion that pillion - riding on' motor-'cycles should be declared illegal would, tof ether with the whole subject of the eavy toll of accidents on motorcvoles, receive the consideration of the &ew Zealand. Road Safety Council.

A letter was received from an Auckland resident complaining of uncovered garbage carts in the city and suburban streets and also of the late hour of the day at which they were in operation. It was decided to writo to the Health Department with a view to having the matter rectified. The president, Mrs. Gordon, who^ recently visited Chrfstchurch and Wellington to attend the cancer research conference, the League of Nations Union arid the PahrPacific executive meeting, reported briefly on these.