CONTINUOUS EXCHANGE

Opunake Times, 21 October 1949, Page 2

CONTINUOUS EXCHANGE

.. OPUNAKE EXTENSION .. WHEN STAFF AVAILABLE As soon as necessary staffing arrangements are made the telephone exchange at Opunake will be operated continuously, It is at present open from 5 s,.m. to 11 p.m. with restricted hours en Sundays and public holidays. Kaponga will also be extended under the same conditions, Announcing this on Monday, the chief postmaster, New Plymouth, Mr. W. J. Cummins, said that that both exchanges have had the required number of subscribers for a continuous service for several years. However, the hours were not extended unless at least two-thirds of the subscribers made the lequest and undertook to pay the increased rentals involved. This request had recently been made in both districts by more than two-thirds of the subscribers. The increased charges payable for business and residential connections are £2 and £1 respectively. For connections on rural lines with five to ten subscribers, the increase will not. exceed 10s a year, the amount depending on the constitution of the line. "The date of commencement of continuous operation is dependent on .the availability of male exchange operators to work the all-night shifts," said Mr Cummins. ' 'While this may not present any great difficulty at Opunake, the Kaponga exchange is at present staffed entirely by girls."