COUNTY TELEPHONES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12739, 17 April 1912, Page 5

COUNTY TELEPHONES.

A WAIPAWA EXPERIMENT

(Special to the Herald.) -WELLINGTOJN', this day. ' When the "Minister" of Telegraphs,' the Hon. H. G. Ell, visited Hawke's Bay this weekj he /\\'fife .'confronted with an important" suggestioh, Whi^li! may have far-reaching effects m connection with the exter^i-on* ,6%;.th^rtelephone system, lie Mas informed by Mr Dull, chairman of the Waipawa County Council, th^it when ratepayers' within certain area.. petitioned the County Council to erect telephone lines their petition was c&pplied with, on their agreeing to pay S per cent interest and sinking fund. By tlie new arrangement the settlers get direct connection with tlie exchange iv Waipawii. In connection with the telephone on the AVgyle estate a guarantee was given to tlie Department some years ago, bat the system was not a success.' The telephone was at the school, and as the settlement extended for sevdr'a!. miles it was not of much use to the distant, settlers. The people on that ''estate 'desire, therefore, to Jje placed 1 on 'the same tei-ms ivs -those m other portions of the county, and the Council arranged with ' the Department to close 'the bureau and to sell -the. lines. Under 'thie Council's sysfem the ■''i.i.m'bet of s'nb..cribers to the telephone exchange had been materially increased, and the cost to the Department had been red. teed. Mr Jull therefore thought that the 'D e- Ipartrhertt should, jwaive the amount charged" ' for the' lines that had been purchased by the Council. The arrangement was to pay £100. He mentioned that ib^ras prbposed also to give other settlements direct connection with the. exchange. The Minister promised to give his representations early consideration. Mr Jull added that if his proposals could not 1 be I 'agreed to'-he %ould suggest as an alternative that the payment of the ! £loff' be e^e-ided 1 ' over a long •p'_.Aod' of years.- He also mentioned that i__*' a ariy ' Ideal 'g*ov .Vrhment -proposal he thought the County Councils should be fo carry out telephone 'works. . '• -<'^ ; y o '^'" l -' r ' l "'' ; ' •"'