Abstract of Gordon John (Jack) CRIGHTON, 2023
Item — Box: 31
Identifier: H02300002
Abstract
H0230 GORDON JOHN (JACK) CRIGHTON
Interviewer: Seona Craig
Abstracter: Judith Christie
Interview: 17 July 2015
Please note that the volume of the recordings is low and sometimes difficult to hear.
TRACK ONE
00.00 Self started straight from school as a telephone operator at WAIMAHAKA POST OFFICE, cycling from home. Did switchboard operating and counter work, then transferred to LINES in 1950. Three years in the AIR FORCE as a RADIO OPERATOR. Returned from the North Island in 1945
01.15 After transfer, self based in INVERCARGILL for thirty years. Married in 1950. Met wife, who worked in the POST OFFICE, in GORE. INVERCARGILL DEPOT based in Liddell Street, now owned by DOWNERS.
03.00 Worked on the Lines in Invercargill, including erecting poles. Gang of five or six. Two periods in Gore, AUTOMATING TELEPHONE SYSTEM. Stayed in a boarding house.
05.00 Used CRANE to erect poles, which were Australian hardwood and latterly treated Pinus. Describes
6.15 Worked in CLINTON for six weeks with ARTHUR RAMAGE, along with five medical students working over the Christmas holidays. Stayed at WAIWERA SOUTH TEMPERANCE HOTEL.
08.00 Otherwise, worked in and around Invercargill. A few poles self erected still around.
09.00 JACK TOOMEY laid a lot of cabling in Invercargill. Mentions JOHN HALL
11.00 Describes process of erecting power poles.
12.50 Made FOREMAN in 1956 after six year’s employment – in charge of a team or five or six men.
14.10 Lot of safety rules.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.00 More discussion re safety rules.
00.30 Got home around 5.00 pm. Kids usually well behaved.
01.45 Describes process of TYING THE POLE WIRES together etc. JOHN HALL worked on underground cabling.
05.00 TRAINED IN WELLINGTON on different technical aspects of the job.
05.45 RETIRED 25 September 1981, as a FOREMAN. Didn’t want promotion, as enjoyed working outside. Self had own VEGETABLE GARDEN in his house, which he has lived in for 65 years. After retirement, relined the house and lowered the ceilings.
09.20 Describes erection of poles, and the operation of a crane. A lot of poles put in around WEST STREET.
11.15 Only one of his siblings that worked in the Post Office. SISTER now lives in AUCKLAND.
12.40 Enjoyed the job – 30 years on the Lines staff and retired at 57. FOREMAN OF FAULTS for the last nine years, going up and down poles. Fixed 10-15 faults per day. Also FIXED TELEPHONES inside the home.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE.
00.12 STRONG WINDS would sometimes break wires.
End of Track Three
Interviewer: Seona Craig
Abstracter: Judith Christie
Interview: 17 July 2015
Please note that the volume of the recordings is low and sometimes difficult to hear.
TRACK ONE
00.00 Self started straight from school as a telephone operator at WAIMAHAKA POST OFFICE, cycling from home. Did switchboard operating and counter work, then transferred to LINES in 1950. Three years in the AIR FORCE as a RADIO OPERATOR. Returned from the North Island in 1945
01.15 After transfer, self based in INVERCARGILL for thirty years. Married in 1950. Met wife, who worked in the POST OFFICE, in GORE. INVERCARGILL DEPOT based in Liddell Street, now owned by DOWNERS.
03.00 Worked on the Lines in Invercargill, including erecting poles. Gang of five or six. Two periods in Gore, AUTOMATING TELEPHONE SYSTEM. Stayed in a boarding house.
05.00 Used CRANE to erect poles, which were Australian hardwood and latterly treated Pinus. Describes
6.15 Worked in CLINTON for six weeks with ARTHUR RAMAGE, along with five medical students working over the Christmas holidays. Stayed at WAIWERA SOUTH TEMPERANCE HOTEL.
08.00 Otherwise, worked in and around Invercargill. A few poles self erected still around.
09.00 JACK TOOMEY laid a lot of cabling in Invercargill. Mentions JOHN HALL
11.00 Describes process of erecting power poles.
12.50 Made FOREMAN in 1956 after six year’s employment – in charge of a team or five or six men.
14.10 Lot of safety rules.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.00 More discussion re safety rules.
00.30 Got home around 5.00 pm. Kids usually well behaved.
01.45 Describes process of TYING THE POLE WIRES together etc. JOHN HALL worked on underground cabling.
05.00 TRAINED IN WELLINGTON on different technical aspects of the job.
05.45 RETIRED 25 September 1981, as a FOREMAN. Didn’t want promotion, as enjoyed working outside. Self had own VEGETABLE GARDEN in his house, which he has lived in for 65 years. After retirement, relined the house and lowered the ceilings.
09.20 Describes erection of poles, and the operation of a crane. A lot of poles put in around WEST STREET.
11.15 Only one of his siblings that worked in the Post Office. SISTER now lives in AUCKLAND.
12.40 Enjoyed the job – 30 years on the Lines staff and retired at 57. FOREMAN OF FAULTS for the last nine years, going up and down poles. Fixed 10-15 faults per day. Also FIXED TELEPHONES inside the home.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE.
00.12 STRONG WINDS would sometimes break wires.
End of Track Three
Dates
- 2023
Conditions Governing Access
Access to oral history recordings is via the Archives Research Room only. We are unable to provide access to this material remotely. Where access agreements allow, abstracts, audio extracts and photographs will be accessible online.
Conditions Governing Use
This material is copyright of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. In accordance with agreements held with interviewees, it is strictly prohibited to reproduce (copy) oral history recordings, abstracts, audio extracts or photographs without prior written consent. Applications for the reproduction of these recordings and associated materials, in whole or part, must be made in writing to the Southland Oral History Project Co-ordinator, c/o Invercargill City Libraries and Archives.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Craig, Seona (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
