PARTY TELEPHONES FOR LEVIN DISTRICT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 February 1914, Page 2

PARTY TELEPHONES FOR LEVIN DISTRICT.

(To the Editor). Sir,- Some time ag<»~i noticed that the Levin Chamber of Commerce was moving in the direction of obtaining a party telephone service throughout the Wirokino and Otaki ridings of the Horowhenua County. Now, Sir, in my opinion this is a most excellent movement and worthy of the whole-hearted support of the farmers of the county and of the business people of Levin. Under the terms of the Country Telephones Act, PJI2, it is possible for any local body under a petition from its ratepayers to raise money for the purpose of extending the telephone serviee in the country districts. The object of that measure was primarily to assist the farmer to provide greater facilities for the back-blocks settiers by bringing him in immediate contact with his merchants and business people of the towns, and I think greater than all, by bringing him in immediate contact with the medical profession. AVho is the farmer who has not, at one time or another, required medical aid for his wife and children, and over bad roads, perhaps at the depth of winter, driven ten or twenty miles for a doctor while perhaps a life hung in the balance? I think the farmers will agree with me that this unfortunately has often been the case. Will it not be a boon then to render this state of things a state of the past?' lam sure the farmers and business people will readily realise the multitudinous udvantags arising from this scheme in its entirety, and it behoves them all to be "'up and doing" and so bring this project to a successful issue. I understood the County Council is to be waited on, and asked to undertake the work, but before that can be done I think 'it is necessary that " the country settlers should signify their willingness to become party to the scheme and forward thennames to the Chamber of Commerce. I trust they will do so en bloc.—l am, etc., PllO BONO AGIUCOLAE.