Oct. 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2987

accepted. The acceptance by individual cadettes of money gifts is entirely forbidden.

23. Rest “spells” are to be allowed when possible to those cadettes doing duty at the main switchboard and the exchange-bureau board, and to these cadettes only. These spells should not exceed one a day of fifteen minutes’ duration for each cadette, except in the special case of illness.

24. Sitting-rooms, lavatories, or other accommodation provided for the female staff of an exchange are not on any account to be visited by any member of the male staff, with the sole exception of the visits of a specified officer, to be arranged for by the Chief Postmaster, Officer in Charge, or Postmaster, for fire-prevention purposes.

25. Information] not to be supplied to the Public.—The telephone exchange may not be made the medium for the dissemination of information that has no connection with the official business of the office, nor for the communication of results of public events, or of items of private or general intelligence; the case of fire alone excepted.

26. Secrecy.—Strict secrecy must be observed with regard to information acquired in the performance of duty. Divulging such information will render the offender liable to dismissal.

27. Non-admission of Visitors or of Officers not on Duty.—No person unconnected officially with the exchange is to be admitted thereto without a written order from the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Superintendent, the Inspector of Telegraph Offices, or the Telegraph Engineer; nor may officers not on duty be admitted to the exchange.

28. Improper Language.—Attendants should report to the controlling officer any improper language used to them by subscribers or other persons. Attendants will be protected in this matter to the fullest extent, but they must not take the law into their own hands by retaliating on offenders.

29. Complaints from Subscribers.—Attendants are not permitted to attend to complaints from subscribers during the daily working. Subscribers wishing to lodge complaints or to ask for information must be immediately connected with the controlling officer.

30. Failure to report Trouble or Delay.—Failure to report promptly any trouble or delay, whether for the purpose of concealing the fault of another officer, or for any other reason, will not be tolerated. Any one failing in his or her duty in this respect will be held responsible for any trouble that may arise from such neglect.

31. Disputes.—Switchboard attendants are prohibited from engaging in any kind of dispute or conversation with subscribers. In case of a dispute the subscriber must be connected with the controlling officer.

32. Defects in and Testing of Apparatus.—Attendants must report promptly apparent defects in their own or subscribers’ apparatus. In every case where the number called does not answer after a reasonable interval the controlling officer should make the necessary test. The night bell, where one is in use, must be tested by the Attendant in Charge at every switching-on.

33. Care in handling Cords and Plugs.—Cords and plugs must be properly tested, and maintained in good order. Plugs are not to be pulled out by the cords, but by the body of the plug itself. In pushing a plug into a jack the fingers or the hand should not be placed on the cord at its junction with the plug.

34. Mode of working Multiple Switchboard not fitted with Central-battery System.—A subscriber requiring an exchange should ring, take the receiver off the hook, and listen. The exchange attendant should answer without ringing back by saying “Number, please,” and, after hearing the number—say, 2204—should repeat it thus: “Two, two, nought, four,” 111 as “One, one, one,” and so on. Before ringing to the number asked for, the attendant should test the wire, and if it does not give the engaged signal the subscriber required should be rung steadily for two seconds, and the two numbers then connected. If the wire is found to be engaged, the calling subscriber should be distinctly answered by the attendant with the one word, “Engaged.” After making a connection between subscribers, the attendant should, within half a minute, “tap” it to ascertain whether or not conversation has been established. Care should, however, be taken not to interrupt by any question on the part of the attendant a conversation that has been begun.

35. Mode of working Central-battery Switchboard.—A subscriber taking the receiver off the hook indicates a call to the exchange attendant by the glow of the electric lamp. The attendant inserting the plug of the cord extinguishes the glow, asks “Number, please”; after hearing the number, repeats it, makes the usual engaged test, and if it does not give the engaged signal completes connection by inserting the plug in the number required. The light in the attendant’s calling-cord glows until the called subscriber takes his receiver from its hook, which action extinguishes the light, notifying to the attendant that communication is established. When the supervising lamp of each subscriber glows the attendant is thereby notified that the conversation has ceased, and disconnection is then made. Great care must be taken to act promptly on the clearing signal.

36. Speaking into the Transmitter.—Attendants should speak quietly and directly into the transmitter in an even tone of voice. Every effort should be made to prevent noise in the exchange.

37. Promptness and Civility.—Promptness and civility on the part of attendants is insisted upon.

38. Rules applicable to all Exchanges.—As many of the foregoing rules for switchboard-working as are applicable to exchanges at which multiple boards are not in use, and to exchanges at which there are multiple boards fitted on the central-battery system, are to be brought into operation at these exchanges.

J. F. ANDREWS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.