RURAL TELEPHONES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8683, 17 March 1914, Page 8

RURAL TELEPHONES

DEPUTATION TO HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A deputation of residents of the district waited on the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday relative to the installation of rux-al telephones for the district.

Mr Lancaster (chairman of the Levin Chamber of Commerce) said some fifty settlers had signed'a petition to become subscribers, and some £2O had been collected to get Mr Pellew, the electrical engineer for the Waipawa County, to place details before _a meeting. After viewing the district, ho expressed the opinion that it was admirably suited for the purposes of a rural telephone. The deputation understood that the County Council could borrow money to inaugurate the scheme, and charge residents accordingly. Mr Lancaster suggested the council should set up a committee, ond get Mr Pellew to go more fully into the matter.

Mr Robertson, M.P., said no doubt the advantages would be great, and he suggested the council be the controlling body. Mr Pellew had given valuable data, pointing out that a complete so. vice—three on each wire—could be obtained at £4 10s, £3 of which went to the Government, and 30s to the controlling body for maintenance. The matter of having a centre, or centres, could be left to the council, but his personal view was that Otaki would be the best place for a central bureau. The deputation was representative of the whole district, and it requested that a move be made immediately. Councillor Venn suggested that a committee be set’up to go into the matter.

Mr Askew (Manakau) said settlers Were interested in the scheme, and ■wanted it, and there was no doubt it would be of immense advantage, especially to a, district like this. There was a certain division of opinion as to a centre, for .the southern end of Manakau wanted Otaki, and the northern end Levin, but this, he considered, could be left to the council. He understood th© scheme would not affect the rates, nut that those who had the telephone would pgy for it. Mr W. Mcivegg (Otaki) said he favoured a general scheme, and He agreed that the suggestion to appoint a committee to confer with the engineer was a good one. Me thought t-liat both Otaki and Levin could be made centres, which might be better than having only one. If the council would go into the matter he felt quite sure that everything would be safe in their hands. If there "were two bureaus, M<nial£tiu coxuu please themselves which one they joined. He, however, favoured one centre. , ~ , ~ , „ It was eventually decided that Councillors Freeman, Monk, Venn, and the chairman be a committee to interview' Mr Pellew, and report at the nest meeting of the council.