FARMERS' TELEPHONES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15567, 26 March 1914, Page 10

FARMERS' TELEPHONES

. » EFFECTIVE CLUB SYSTEM. LESSON FOR THE STATE. — SUCCESS IN NORTH WAIROA.

[fEOM OCR DARCAVILLB COl

The growth of tha Kaipaia Telephone Club has illustrated to the State authorities how such a service is seized upon when removed from red-tape restrictions. Ten years ago Mr. A. E. Harding instituted a private telephone service between Dargaville and Tangiteroria, a distance of 18 miles. The State line then in commission between those places cost £900, whereas the cost of Mr. Harding's venture was only £90. After a decade, both lines are still working, and the cheaper one is consistently doing as good service as the dearer, with a parallel cost for repairs. The demonstration made by Mr. Harding attracted the attention of settlers, particularly those in the back blocks, who made numerous requests to have their homeslieads linked up with a central ofhce. Numerous connections were made, and the control of the service was subsequently undertaken by the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company. Subscribers rapidly increased, till the present club was formed, with a membership of 149, having a central exchange at Maagawhare, several subezchanges, and a liue length of 150 miles.

State Vessus The Club.

Noting the club's prosperity tho State officials are now desirous of incorporat'ing the private service with their own, and to that end ha\o made some important amalgamation proposals. The directors of the club, however, do not consider the conditions, satisfactory, and have decided that better terms must te offered before a general meeting of club mmbers is called to consider the matter. In tho Dargavillo borough, subscribers ■to tho State scheme number 110, and there are bureaus at other district centres. Requests are being insistently made for direct telephonic communication between Dargaville and Auckland, and it is stated that if the Telephone Club subscrilers will amalgamate with the State system, such connection will probably be granted. The aspect appears eminently satisfactory to borough tradesmen, but is not favourably regarded by the outback settler, who is the particular person catered for by the club.

Subscribers to the club pay an entrance fee of £5. The cost of side-line construction averages only £2 per mile, as on privato property any class of pole or tree is utilised. The receiving instrument, which becomes the property of the member, costs £6, and the annual subscription is £5. By paying in to the central exchange a sum to meet the cost of the receipt and despatch of telegrams, club members can have such addressed to that office, and at once have the contents telephoned in them. There are no calling-up or other fees. The club maintains all lines, and the service is open on Sundays from 9 l.d 10 a.m- and from 5 to 6 p.m., whilst on other days it is open from 7 a.m. till 9 p.m. A special continuation service is daily provided in case of sickness, fire, or the necessity of police protection. To the settler located 20 miles from the borough, the sickness provision is a most important one, for attendants on a patient can at any hour of the night get into touch with a medical man and receive immediate inptructioni how to act.

Advantages of Independence.

It is contended by the club subscribers that in the State amalgamation proposals special consideration appears to be extended to borough residents, whilst little regard is shown for the interests of tho <listan&ly located farmer. The State authorities offer to erect a line free of cost over a three-mile radius from DargaviJle, and beyond that distance subscribers must construct any continuation line on conditions satisfactory to the Telegraphic Department. The Department will not consider any cable connection with club members across the Northern Wairoa River, so that if an amalgamation were effected some 75 of the present club subscribers would lose their existing right* and privileges. The club already has twe rubles connecting the Arapohue, Rehia Raupo, and other districts on the eastert side of the river with the central exchangi it Mangawhare, -

The cost of main line construction bi the club averages £5 per mile, and that o the State £26, whereas the efficiency of th( less expensive service is on all points equal to that of the higher. Proof of the satis faction given by the club service is shown by the fact that the club instals two con nections to every one made by the State. The Government officials have consistently maintained that back-blocks connections cannot be effected at the price laid down by the club, and despite obvious proof to the- contrary, still refuse to recognise present-day results. The aim of the club is to provide the settler, and particularly the distantly-located one, with every possible telephonic convenience, and that it lias succeeded is shown by the steady increase of subscribers, a steadily-growing bapk credit balance, and the promise of an early reduction in the annual subscription. r

The club is now arranging for the extension of its lines 10 Pekapekaraa and Houto (the latter in Whanearei County), f F on i,P on «. to tap all homesteads in the Manganui Valley, to include the many homes above Avoca in the Tangowahine Valley, and to extend the service to Maungatapere and Maunu. At present the line at Ruawai k only four miles distant from tho Paparoa Club's system, and in the near future, when the two clubs connect, communication will be possible throughout the greater portion of Hobson and Outmatea Counties.

Inter-club Connections.

The club is also being importuned to extend its service to Kaihu and there connect with the private systems of Kaikohe and the Bay of Inlands. If the connections under consideration are effected, a service will result which munt revolutionise State methods. The whole of the work, be it noted, is being carried out without any Government Resistance. It should be mentioned that almost even- subscriber to the State system in the Dargaville Borough has also installed the club's srstem, and that with the two they enjoy a connection far beyond anything' obtainable in the city, for with' t!ie private system no bureau call* are payable. The operations of the Kaipar'a Club have realised to the full the. expectations of its founders in the spread of settlement and the ame.ioratir/n of disabilities which generally burden the bush farmer. Throughout the Northern Wairoa district men Jiving remote from commercial centres can immediately learn market condition* and communicate with their agents, and it is contended that if the club's system was extended to Crown land sections as they are made available for settlement a better class of land-stoker would be attracted. I tt the light of Northern Wairoa experience it may safely be asserted that the club system has hastened land settlement by ten years, and settlers aver that if the back-block pioneers are to be penalised bv the removal of the service now obtaining tho result will be disastrous to a large section of the North Auckland pastoral community.