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Date: 03 Dec 1984

From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project

By: Barr, Charles William Mayo, 1893-1988

Reference: OHInt-0070/02

Description: Charles Barr describes in detail family background, father's cartage business, childhood in Christchurch in the 1890s and 1900s, including clothing worn. Recalls education and mentions classmate Sid Holland. Describes first employment at a tobacconist shop, then employment at the Post Office and work as a message boy, wages, conditions, uniforms. Mentions nickname was Sandow. Details work in the Telegraph Operating Room, discusses the importance of telegrams. Recalls the Telegraph Training School at Oamaru, and discusses the personality, stresses, requirements of the ideal telegraphist, social life. Describes his service in World War I in the ANZAC Wireless Troop, serving in India, Iran, and France. Talks about conditions of service. Recalls career after the war in the Telegram Delivery Branch, Christchurch, changes in telegram delivery, growing employment of women in both Post Office and Telegraph Branch, the Post and Telegraph Association (later the Post Office Union), Post Office administration and attitude to staff, his later employment as Rehabilitation Officer for the Post Office. Venue - Christchurch Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Claremont Avenue, Christchurch Accompanying material - Four pages of handwritten biographical notes and a newspaper article obituary on Mr Rupert Thomas Wood of Rotorua attached to the printed abstract Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000746 - OHC-000749A Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.09 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-110. Search dates: 1893 - 1984

Date: 27 Nov 1984

From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project

By: Dick, George, 1894-1985

Reference: OHInt-0070/28

Description: George Dick describes family background, father's work as a miner at Denniston and Kaitangata, father's work accident. Details childhood home and life in Kaitangata in the late 1890s and early 1900s, pastimes, food, smoking, education and early jobs. Recalls work as a message boy in rural post offices, uniform and clothing, salary, promotion to postman then a telegraph cadet at Takaka, learning morse and telegraphy techniques. Talks about the press wires, handwriting, confidentiality of telegrams, the Post and Telegraph Association, Post Office Savings Bank methods of balancing interest, post office life pre 1914, women in the post office, morse telegraphy, salaries, working hours, early colleagues - Mr Mahoney. Describes service in World War I at Gallipoli with Canterbury Infantry, Quinn's Post, evacuation because of typhoid fever, Hornchurch Camp and post office, Zeppelin airships over London, the war years and service in London at the Records Office. Recalls returning to New Zealand in 1919, marriage to Gertrude Martin, work as a telegraphist, work in Post Office Savings Bank, salary cuts during the Depression, Post Office building design, lack of training, motor registrations, original ledger offices. Recalls time as Postmaster in Opotiki and Lower Hutt and talks about retirement. Venue - Ngatea Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - Held at RD 2 (Pipiroa Road), Ngatea Accompanying material - Copy of a letter from the Director-General of the New Zealand Post Office to George Dick (included in printed abstract) Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000736 - OHC-000739A Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.27 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 113. Black and white photographs as follows:. George Dick in uniform, World War, 1914-1918. Group photograph including George Dick, Post & Telegraph Guard, 1914. Group photograph including George Dick at Hornchurch, England, 1916. George Dick, 1948. George Dick, 1984. Opotiki Post Office (1940s). Opotiki flood, 1945 Search dates: 1894 - 1984