THOSE PUBLIC TELEPHONES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 2

THOSE PUBLIC TELEPHONES.

»/ AND CIVIC RIGHTS'. Following is a copy of a letter forwarded bv tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) to tho Hon, H. D. Bell onthe matter concerning the Government's action in erecting public telephone-, bureaus when and where it likes in Wellington without consulting the City Council. An appeal was made a few- days ago to tho •Post'mastor-Gcneralj,(|ili.p.,-,H-pn,,;R.,H. Rhodes) on the mutter, without any satisfaction; being, received. .Now the question is.-being 'pushed still further under : tlio .notice of -tlio Government intho hope that spinOi reasonable working arrangement will. bo arrived at. Tho letter rends.'as follows: —

"Dear Sir..—Clause 10 of tho Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, if passed, as drawn, will he a serious menace to the rights of municipal government, and a violation of equitable conditions that should exist between the central and local .authority..

"No provision is mado for tho approval of t-ho local authority as to tho position on tho streets or roads for the proposed telephone cabinets, and whilst municipalities wo'come tho onierprise of tho Goiwral Government in providing the much-desired public services, they main tain that tho location should be decided by the authority that owns and controls" the streets as they alone can properly determine where thoycan bo placed so as to facilitate their_ rise for tho public and not be in a position that will impede tho services of tho City. Ainone matters that can be cited.' and which bear on this question, aro approaches to buildings, possible alterations to same, alterations to streets and alignment and other future work'of municipal acquirements avoiding wires, and pipes under the roads and streets. These* are factors that should warrant tho Department to submit their proposals to the authorities. "I have deemed it my duty to urgo you to protect the. local authorities in their legitimate, claim, and by so doing you will demonstrate that tlio entrenched position of municipal government that you set up when you woro Mayor of this City finds a ready cliampioii in your position as Cabinet 3rinister. 111 conclusion allow mo to say that the municipalities of Auckland, Cliristcburcl! and Dunedin endorse tho action of the Wellington City Council in their protest against the. massing of this clause.—Yours faithfully (sgd.) John P. Luke, Mayor."