Story: Telecommunications

Party lines

Many farming communities set up their own telephone networks. Known as ‘party lines’, the networks were shared by up to 10 households, and it was possible for people to listen in on others’ conversations.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: Telephone Talk. National Film Unit, 1953

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How to cite this page:

A. C. Wilson, 'Telecommunications - Post and Telegraph, 1914–1945', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/22015/party-lines (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by A. C. Wilson, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Apr 2022