The much tried subscribers will no doubt remark: "That's all very well, but why we got to put up with all this?" The afiswer is: "Be. cause the system is being changed from manual to automatic and until the whole change is effected, which will probably be some time next, year, you will have to grin and bear it. London had to, Manchester was in the same fix and Shanghai will continue to experience delays until the complete transformation takes place."
Our representative turned to Mr. Mousley and said: "All this you have shown and told me explains slight delays, but how is it that sometimes one rings for Central and receives no answer for ten or twelve minutes. T myself have had this experience fon several occasions?" To "this! query, Mr. Mousley could only say that such an occurrence could not be explained. Supervisors parade behind the operators throughout day and night and by the means of pilot lights over each switchboard it possible for a supervisor to see at a glance how long a subscriber is Kept waiting before hearing the familiar "Number please." Again, a line is not cleared immediately a conversation is finished a red pilot light shows.
The Operator at Work Each of the many operators has from 60 to 90 lines in his charge and this is said to be below the number controlled by operators in other countries. The writer stood behind one for some minutes and saw how manual system subscribers were dealt when requiring numbers on the automatic system and the delay in connection w:
lly non-existent. The apers in the dials round at an ing pace, It is not intended here to even attempt to describe the room in which the automatic system is housed. The whole thing is perfectly marvellous and subscribers are invited by the company to call and see the working of the exchange themselves.
In fairness to the company it must be said that the responsible regard complaints in' very light and in no casual manner, and, if faults are traced to particular individuals, the latter are suitably and severely' dealt. with.
We have heard complaints regarding slackness in installing telephones and in this connection the Company might reply promptly to applicants, state definitely on what day the telephone can be installed and when it will be in proper work. ing order. This should not be difficult to accomplish. If the Company has a lot of work on hand, it should say so and give a probable installation date; Potential subscribers would then know what to expect,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.