AN IMPORTANT SUIT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT SUIT.

RESPECTING AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE PATENTS. Mr. W. M. Curtis, representative in New Zealand for the Stronger Automatic Telephone Company, of America, has instructed MessTs. Fiudlay, DalxioSi and Co., solicitors, to take action at law forbidding the Western Electric Company, Ltd. (Australasia) from infringing tho patent rights alleged to bo held by the plaintiff company in respect to automatic- telephones proposed to bo introduced into New Zealand by that (tho Western Electric) company under contract with the Now Zealand Government. Tho Crown will bo enjoined with the Western Electric Company, Ltd., in the suit,The action is the sequel to tho acceptance by the New Zealand Government of the tender of tho Western Electric Company to install automate telephone exchanges at Auckland, Wellington, Blenheim, Hamilton, Oatnaru, and Masterton, for & sum of £89,555. The contract provided for full automatic switchboards at tho centres named, with branch exchanges at Devoivnort, Takapuna, Onelmnga, Ponsonby, Mount Eden, and Hemuora in the Auckland area, and at Cooirteuay Place, N-ewtowii, Kelburne, Karori, and Khandallah in tho Wellington area. The Strowger Company, which has already installed several sets ot,, automatic telephones in Wellington, was the .only other tenderer.