PRIVATE TELEPHONE LINES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8516, 22 August 1907, Page 6

PRIVATE TELEPHONE LINES.

A conference was beld in the County Council Chambers, yesterday afternoon, between a committee of the County Council and the promoters of private telephone lines to define the terms under which outside persons will be allowed to make use of such lines. There were presenters C. E. Cockburn-Hood (chairman), and H. Toogood, and Messrs H. H. Beetham, C. F. Vallance, W. Perry, J. Perry, J. Mcßae, T. W. Wardell, H. Holmes, and Jackson Bros. The Chairman said the matter was a somewhat intricate one and therefore the Council considered it advisable to confer with the representatives of the promoters of the private lines. He moved, "That, in the opinion of this committee, an entrance fee should be charged to all persons, other than the promoters, desiring to use private telephone lines, such fees to be set apart as a repairing fund or for new work." The motion was carried. The Chairman also moved—"That the entrance fee for each wire be £5 for all lines leading from Masterton which are already erected or are to be erected, excluding all wires which lead from Carswell'« Exchange to the north and east. Such fee shall be exclusive of the cost of strengthening wires, additions, etc." Mr W. Perry moved as an amendment—"That the' fee for the first mile out of Masterton be £2." The amendment was not seconded, and the motion was, after discussion, carried, Mr Perry dissenting. Messrs Vallance, H. Morrison, Wardell, W. Perry,, Cockburn-Hood, Holmes, R. Beetham, H. H. Beetham, H. Toogood and S. Mawley were appointed a committee to manage the lines leading to Masterton, so long as such lines are built along public roads.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. The above resolutions will be submitted to the County Council for approval.