Interview with Bob Berrett

Bob Berrett recalls his family background and childhood. Details family farmhouse at Kai Iwi. Describes education, working as message boy at Kai Iwi Post Office in 1914 and also assisting Railway Station Master, duties, layout of office, salary, delivery of telegrams, work at Taihape Telephone Exchange 1915, shifts, female employees, the postmaster B T Missen, discipline, clothing, the telegraph branch, Post Office staff, training at Telegraph School, Auckland in 1916, Jimmy Allen, techniques of sending morse, details of duties as telegraphist at Mercer, Kawakawa and Matiere.

Describes postal delivery, telephone receiver sets, social life, influenza epidemic in 1918, work as a telegraphist at Takapuna, Auckland in 1918, the telegraph office at Wellington, layout of telegraph room, sorting telegrams, work as a telegrapher at Tolaga Bay in 1920, describes district, local personalities, work as a telegrapher at Woodville in 1922, the district, the personalities, salary and promotion, work at Stratford and Westport, the depression in 1930s, first transmission of shortwave radio, work as postmaster at Norsewood Post Office, problems with water supply, hours of work, work as postmaster at Rawene Post Office, staff problems, social life, the Waimamaku Post Office, head office inspectors, social status, customs excise work, life at Pahiatua Post Office in 1950s, retirement. Mentions daughter Valerie married singer Noel Mangin.

Venue - Blenheim

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Bob Berrett's home in Blenheim

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000771 - OHC-000774

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 111.

Search dates: 1900 - 1984

Alternative form available: Listening copies available OHLC-006612 - OHLC-006615