RURAL TELEPHONES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 6

RURAL TELEPHONES.

(By Telegraph—Prose Association.) Auckland, May 25. "A settler saves the capital cost of his private telephone in the .first six months," said a speaker at the A. and P. Associations' Conference to-day, when speaking on the. subject of rural telephones. The discussion was raised by a motion by Mr. Somervillo (Te Kuiti): That the agricultural associations and farmers' clubs throughout this province be urged to encourage tho extension of the telephone system in rural districts by endeavouring to induce local authorities and local residents to establish telephone systems in centres where the Government cannot undertake to do so. Mr. Rutherford ■ seconded tho motion and spoke pointing out the advantages of th« telephone to people in isolated districts and of tho prohibitive rates in places now charged by the Government Tho secretary slated- particulars received from the Prime Minister given as the result of the inquiries made alter last conference in his. letter, bw Joseph Ward stated that county councils had power to contract with the Minister for Telegraphs and employ portions of tho countv funds for erection or extension of telephone lines. The County Council was tho only local body which had that power Private individuals and residents could 'make arrangements for a local system connected with tho Departments =vstem i(nd such private owners ot telephones could receive, and dispatch messages over the Department's wires without extra charge. This last concession was not generally known. The motion was unanimously adopted.