AUDIO
Interview with Jim McLaughlin
- Date
- 14 Dec 1985
- By
- McLaughlin, James, 1908-1994
- Reference
- OHInt-0070/29
- Description
Jim McLaughlin recalls family background, childhood in Westport, education, early work as message boy in Post and Telegraph Department in Westport, the postmaster W T Johnston, details of shifts, duties, salary, uniform and cleanliness, clearing post boxes, discipline, training in morse, layout of Westport Post Office, selling telephones to the farmers, peoples' reaction to telephones initially, operators listening to telephone calls, importance of wrist in sending morse, press telegrams, suicide of telegraphists, mentions work as radio inspector and signals officer in World War II, traits needed for good telegraphy.
Describes earthquakes, Murchison earthquake June 1929, damage, conditions in Nelson, effect of earthquake on communications, land and forestry, relieving work at Nelson Post Office as telegraph cadet, acquaintanceship with Keith and Norma Holyoake, Motueka, transfering to Wellington radio in 1931, Depression in 1930s, work as radio operator in Chatham Islands 1930s, describes place, the post office and the radio station, the spark transmitter, death and funeral of Tommy Solomon, the Moriori, the racing club, life of the Chatham Islanders, fishing, background to becoming radio inspector in Nelson from 1936-1943, work as radio inspector at Nelson in World War II, duties, training radio operators for the Hudson bombers, work as Maori interpreter at the Chatham Islands from 1932-1936.
Talks about work as senior radio inspector in Hamilton from 1943 to 1965, views on engineers, involvement in several Royal visits, reference to some notible Post Office events from 1930-1962, attitude of Head Office to his work, retirement.
Access Contact - See oral history librarian
Venue - Hamilton
Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson
Venue - 60 Awatere Avenue, Hamilton
Accompanying material - Copies of the following included in printed abstract: Jim McLaughlin's curriculum vitae, typed, two pages; various radiograms to Jim McLaughlin; article from the Waikato times, 24 Mar 1958 entitled 'American satellite heard in Hamilton; 'Powerful signals picked up from Soviet satellite', Waikato times, 14 October 1957; various other articles about the same subject; a letter from Alan Frame from the Old Timers' Club to Jim McLaughlin; editorial by Leo Simpson entitled 'So you think you're an engineer, mate!', Electronics Australia, August 1984.
Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001240 - OHC-001243
Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.
Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 161.
Search dates: 1908 - 1985
- Additional description
Alternative form available: Digital copies of the recording and abstract are also available in the Library's Reading Room
No analogue listening copies available
- Use/Reproduction
- Public use requires the written permission of the donor and the interviewee Copyright: Held by the donor
- Access restrictions
- Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Access requires written permission of the donor
- Part of
- New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
- Format
- 4 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration, Oral histories, Equipment used: Sony WM-D6C: Shure SM58 microphones
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Copyright
All Rights ReservedInterview with Jim McLaughlin, printed abstract
Date: 14 Dec 1985
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHA-0161
Description: Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s).
Digitised letter from Alan Frame
Date: 27 October 1964
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHDL-004934
Description: Quantity: 1 Electronic document(s). Processing information: Printed letter digitised 2024
Interview with Jim McLaughlin, tape one
Date: 14 Dec 1985
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-001240
Description: Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Arrangement: Tape sequence - 1 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Jim McLaughlin, tape four
Date: 14 Dec 1985
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-001243
Description: Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Arrangement: Tape sequence - 4 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Jim McLaughlin, tape two
Date: 14 Dec 1985
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-001241
Description: Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Arrangement: Tape sequence - 2 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Jim McLaughlin, tape three
Date: 14 Dec 1985
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-001242
Description: Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Arrangement: Tape sequence - 3 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).