THE USEFUL 'PHONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7450, 26 May 1911, Page 4

THE USEFUL 'PHONE

WANTED IN RURAL DISTRICTS. MESS 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 Somerville (Te Kuiti): “ That the agricultural associations and Farmers’ Clubs throughout this province be urged to encourage the 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 the motion, and pointed out the advantages of the telephone to people in isolated districts, and of the prohibitive rates in some places now charged by the Government. , secretary quoted particulars from the Prime Minister given as the result of the, inquiries made after the last conference. In his letter Sir Joseph Ward stated that county councils had power to contract with the Minister of Telegraphs and portions of the county funds for the erection or extension of telephone lines. The county council was the only local body which had that power. Private individuals and residents could make arrangements for a local system connected with _ the department’s system', and such private owners of a telephone 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.