The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1913. TELEPHONIC DELAYS.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 216, 30 May 1913, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1913. TELEPHONIC DELAYS.

THE tiresome delays which so often occur in obtaining telephonic communication with bureau stations, and more particularly with the Auckland exchange, give rise to many complaints'—and rightly so. Daily these complaints are to be heard, and many instances could be cited of vexatious delays and consequent loss of time to those who desire to obtain telephonic communication with other than subscribers to the local exchange. This unsatisfactory and annoying state of affairs has for long existed, and as the number of subscribers to all exchanges in the King Country, Waikato, and Thames Valley districts is daily increasing, and with the consequent greater demand upon the long-distance' lines without any provision being made to cope with the increasing business, the delays naturally become more frequent. What possibly accounts for a large proportion of the delays is the fact that there are at present only two wires linking Auckland and Hamilton, and these are called upon to serve the following lines, which branch in at various places : —Kawhia, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Te Awannitu, Hamilton, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Paeroa-Te Aroha, Waihi-Thames, and Huntly-Nga-ruawahia. As we have already said, these towns are making rapid advancementcommercially, in view of which there is an increasing demand for telephonic communication ; and when it is considered that no provision is made for the extra volume of business it cannot be expected that other than a state of chronic congestion should exist. Writingunder this heading the Waikato Argus says: — “Quite twelve months ago it was reported that the Departmental engineers had recommended the erection of two more wires between Auckland and Hamilton, stating that one could not satisfactorily cope with the overflow of business, and that while the work was being undertaken the Department might just as well erect the two from the point of view of economy. The proposal, however, was strangled in its infancy. It must not be forgotten that Mr Massey’s legacy did not permit of much in the way of extension of telegraph lines or any other public work ; but now that the financial tension has eased somewhat there should be no difficulty in persuading the Government to grant further telephonic facilities to an area embracing so many large and important towns. The work will be immediately reproductive, so no objection can be raised on that score. Here is a question on which the Waikato, King Conn- j try, Goldfields, and Thames Val- 1 lev can meet on common ground, [ and the various Chambers of! Commerce should lose no time in j impressing on the PostmasterGeneral the importance of and necessity for the work.” With the concluding suggestion we heartily concur, and it is to be hoped that those localities more directly concerned will combine in an endeavour to bring loan end the many unnecessary delays, for truly this is a matter deserving of immediate and concerted action.