"TWOPENCE-IN-THE-SLOT.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 22 November 1911, Page 8

"TWOPENCE-IN-THE-SLOT.”

PUBLIC TELEPHONES A SUCCESS

A “Dominion” representative was informed yesterday tnat the new two-ponce-in-the-slot public telephones which have been erected in Wellington have proved a complete success, and it is the intention of the Department to erect others as soon as they can be turned out. At present there are only four at work—one each at Thorndon and Lambton railway stations, one on the Queen’s Wharf, and one at Kelburne. The machines are a splendid pattern perfected by Mr Palmer, chief mechanician to the Department, and have given every satisfaction both to the public and the Department. One leading official, who was recently in England, states that the local machines are a great improvement on those in use in London. I'hcry the aural system of notification is used. This means that tnu girl in the exchange must hear the sound of the two pennies falling be■fore she will connect up. “I used one of these telephones one day,” said the official,“and after dropping my pennies in asked for a number. ‘Put your tnpponee in,’ said a female voice; ’i have put it in,’ 1 replied. ‘Didn’t hear it,’ she said. So I had to put in another ‘tuppence’ before .1 could get the number 1 wanted.” The local machine is never guilty of exacting a double charge. One penny gives you the exchange, and after you nominate the number wanted, the second penny is dropped, and connection is established. As soon as the machines can l)c turned out they will be supplied to other centres in New Zealand.