Interview with George Smith

George Smith recalls his family background, childhood in Petone, effect on the family of the influenza epidemic of 1918, the Post Office Association Welfare Fund, smoking in the Post Office, duties as a lineman and chauffeur in Lower Hutt ca 1926, transferring to Rarimu during the Depression 1930s, work as message boy in Petone Post Office from 1923, interview for job, uniform, salary, deliveries, sorting, Ericsson telegraph equipment and procedures, delivery routes, work as junior lineman Lower Hutt 1926, methods of erecting poles, effects of Hutt River floods, the way the General Division was viewed by others.

Describes personalities, feelings about work, Tommy Dale the Wellsford policeman ca 1942, the town of Wellsford ca 1942, the effect of the Depression 1930s, ceremony of automatic cutover in Wellsford in 1964, role of overseer, geographical organisation in Wellsford - fault areas, effect of lineman work on health, faults and on call work, details of the Eureka Line Camp during the Depression 1930s.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Venue - Auckland

Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe

Venue - 72 Port Albert Road, Wellsford

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001233 - OHC-001235

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 164.

Search dates: 1908 - 1985

Alternative form available: Digital copies of the recording and abstract are also available in the Library's Reading Room