BACKBLOCKS TELEPHONES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1920, Page 1

BACKBLOCKS TELEPHONES.

NEW SCHEME TO SUPPLY

[per press association. —copyright.]

WELLINGTON, March 9

Tlie Postmaster-General (Mr Coates) announced to-day that “ In order to make it easy for any settler to connect his house or homestead by private wire with the nearest telephone office, the Department will undertake to sell the settlers, at actual cost, the material for a telephone to be constructed on the deferred payment system, interest to be charged on unpaid money at the rate of 5 per cent per annum; instalments to be payable half-yearly, and such instalments to be of an amount such as will pay off both principal and interest in a period of 10. years; until the whole of the principal is repaid, the material to remain the property of the Post and Telegraph Department. ‘ '[’lie scheme,” he states, “ of course, refers only to private lines intended in connect with the department’s system, and not to private lines intended for private intercommunication apart from the department’s system. Summed up tho position will be that settlers desirig to erect a private wire will be able to obtain material from the department at the lowest price, and on the easiest possible terms, and will also, through a private line license, obtain the assistance and advice of the department’s engineers in the erection of the line. An additional part of tlie scheme is that if the settlers themselves can supply poles, and possibly wire and insulators, and labour, for the erection of the line, the work of construction will cost them nothing, a.% the department will provide for supervision of the work by an engineer. The greatest difficulty lias been experienced by the department in getting materials. I qm glad to say that at present the department has fait supplies df telephones and insulators, and further supplies are on order. Wire suitable for country lines is available in fair quantities, but just now tlie greatest difficulty confronting the department is the supply of poles of suitable hardwood. Between 20,000 and 30,000 poles arc awaiting shipment in Australia. As soon as these poles arrive, it will be possible to make a start with several works already authorised to connect up many backblocks districts. Hie department will then bo able to go on with some of the many party lino connections with telephone exchanges which have been held up for so long for want of poles.”