PRIVATE TELEPHONE LINES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 397, 5 January 1909, Page 5

PRIVATE TELEPHONE LINES.

DUBIOUS POSITION IN WAIBABAPA. ; ' The telephone system in the Wairarapa_ is probably more complete for a country'district than in,.any corresponding, portion of: New Zealand. The lines are run in all .directions by ordinary means, and; (in the more remote places, where habitations are few),,_the wire tencesjftre requisitioned; aB connecting links of homesteads. It is possible for the lonely dweller on the Kawhata, away on.the East Coast,' to communicate with Wellington at almost any hour of the day or night./ The system of telephone communication in_ the district.is extending' with, such -■:': rapidity (writes our Wairarapa correspondent), and the construction of private' lines is assuming such an ! extensive phase, that the local body interested has asked that: it should be allowed to control the business, especially as re- j the. height;and size;'of'jtne'posts and .wires.-' ■■• •. -' •'.:, ' " 'Mr.. A. W. Hogg, M.P., • accordingly brought-the'matter under jthe notice, of Parliament, and Cabinet decided to give the mat l tor. consideration. •. The Prime Minister has now written the following letter".to Mr. Hogg:—"lt is understoodjthat y'dur suggestion means that private wire owners should have': the authority \of -.local; bodies for tu'a erection of .posts and wires on public roads, and it is considered by this Department to be very desirable that this authority be obtained in the interests of public feafoty. Clause'l4s of The Public Works Act appears to give the. local road authority power to control the orection of telephone lines along public roads, although telegraphic or telephone lines are not specially mentioned.. The clause reads as follows:—'Every person who, without lawful authority or the written permission of the local .authority haying tho control of -a road (a) encroaches oh tho road-by'making or: erecting' any building, .fence,' ditch,' or obstacle, etc;; (c) digs up,. removes, or alters in any way, the soil or surface, or. scraping of the road, is liable to a penalty.' No private person or local authority .has, however, any legal right to" erect or to authorise the erection'of telephone lines... The. matter of introducing legislation requiring consent to be obtained from the local authorities having control of the hoards before private telephone lines' are erected, and authorising the local authorities to proscribe the condition for the construction of such lines jin tho interests of 1 publio safety; is under consideration."