Phone Shortage In Dominion Expected To Last For Some Time

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 October 1948, Page 4

Phone Shortage In Dominion Expected To Last For Some Time

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA). —The recent statement in Auckland by Sir Louis Beale, vice-presi-dent of the International Standard Electric Corporation, about full telephone equipment, including exchange gear, being manufactured in quantity now for export was reassuring but called for some comment, said the Postmaster-General (Mr- Hackett) tonight. The Post Office had for some time had otttstanding orders in Britain for telephone equipment to the va’ue of just over £3,000.000, and, until the present time, there had been no improvement in the supplies available to New Zealand. Equipment was now coming to hand which had been on order for many years. In April. 1946, orders for telephones and exchange equipment valued at £700,000 were outstanding. By September, 1948, further orders for £3,200.000 worth were placed, hut deliveries totalled only about £900,000. Before the end of this year additional orders totalling £600,000 will he placed. Mr. Hackett said that other factors, such as availability of cable and telephone poles, did affect the position, but in the last 12 months nearly 18,000 new fe’ephone connections were made. This, was an all-time record and was achieved in the face of great difficulties. From 1939 to the Present time, 112,000 new connections were made. There were 41 ner cent, more telephones inst“ll"d in'Now Zealand today than in 1939. The demand for telephones today was phenomena’ and New Zealand's demand was one of the world’s highest. Mr. Hackett said that everything possible was being done for those awaiting phones, but supply difficulties could not be overcome in a short time.