TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1385, 11 March 1912, Page 4

TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MANAWATU. (By Telecraph.-Spociol Correspondent.) Palmcrston North, March 10. An interesting 'discussion on telephone communication for farmers tool; place at yesterday's meeting of the Palmcrston branch of the Farmers' Union. The chairman, -Mr. J. Balsillie, brought up the matter. He said ho had lately visited the Hawkc's Buy district, and was struck with the cheapness of tclephoue communication there., The county councils had taken the matter up, with good results. The councils erected the poles, whilo tho farmer only had to pay for the wire and the machine. The cost of this was very small, amounting to about .29 for about 2-t miles of wire, and about .£!! per annum for the use of the machine. Each farmer was connected with a central bureau, and could communicate with outside districts as well as his own. ■ Farmers were recognising the advantage of installing telephones at such cheap rates, and were quickly obtaining them. Mr. Bnlsillio considered that something of this kind was wanted in the Munawatu, and there was no reason why a similar scheme should not be adopted. The secretary was instructed to write to the Hawke's Bay County Council and obtain all information coneernhie; the telephone system in that district. It was also considered that there was no reason why the variouscounty councils around Palmcrston should not combine in the matter.