Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JAN. 24, 1893. Telephone for Shannon.

Manawatu Herald, 24 January 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JAN. 24, 1893. Telephone for Shannon.

Mr,T, G. Wilson, M.H.R. recently sent a telegram to the Post-Master General asking when telephone connection with the townships on the railway. line would. .hajnade. We wonder, .hew rhuny tri iStes this enquiry has been made and how many times the following answer, .jnst received, has been sent? "'" l much regret funds at my disposal will not permit of Manakau, Levin and Shannon telephone being undertaken at piesent. It is amongst' the first to be put in hand, and I will do it at the earliest date." We know of a certain number but possibly n if of all. The want ot action on the part of the Minister is a disgrace, the Post Office and Telegraph Depart ments are revenue producers and there must be some misapprehension about the funds. It is unquestioned that the connection of these growing townships with the rest of the telegraph system would bring a far larger income than the cost, yet the settlers are kept in inconvenience md the representative of the district is played with, because it does not 3uit the Government to comply with the request of an Opposition member. For our own part we are surprised that Mr Wilson accepts these exluges in the quiot manner he doe 9, is they are so plainly evident a refusal though not actually so in words. We can call to mind many members who would have extorted ;he concession by constant communication and interviews. We idrait that such a course is a most unpleasant one to pursue but at ;imes it is the only one that is at ill successful. We trust those who ire out in the cold will understand i ;hat they have to thank the govern- ' nent for the position they are in, as ' -he ..member for the district, by )eriodical reminders, has swept . the i excuse of the matter being over- " ooked,. ayvay. The law allows ' Dounty Councils to erect telephones ' md the delay of the government ! nay possibly cause these bodies to i ake action. If private competition j vas permitted by the '■; g6yernmen.tla me would have been . . ereopfeol , .iopig >efore to Shannon. The i dfsfca.iice i mm Foxton. to -Shannon by .ihie ] learest route w^nld hot ; be .niore ban eight miles and the Ine should < lot cost over £200. : The matter ] las been hung up nearly; a twelve- i aonth by Ministerial, pr misea. " ["his would be a capital suhject for ommitteps in the differeut , town- I hips ttf agitate for.