MEETING OF MOUTOA SETTLERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3528, 24 August 1926, Page 3

MEETING OF MOUTOA SETTLERS.

TO DICSUSS TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS.

Last night representatives from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs J. K. Hornblow (President), D. Christie, C. A. Pearson, M. E. Perreau, J. S. Moir and the secretary (Mr R. Hornblow), accompanied by the local postmaster (Mr J. Newton) addressed a meeting of settlers in the Marotiri and Moutoa districts in connection with telephone facilities and with a view to obtaining further subscribers to the Foxton telephone exchange. There was a representative gathering present.

Mr J. K. Hornblow outlined the object of the meeting. The Postmaster (Mr Newton) in outlining the benefits to be derived by the settlers by being connected with the Foxton telephone exchange referred to a survey he had made of Moutoa and Marotiri. The two districts, he said, were poorly linked up at present and it would be greatly to the benefit of all the settler's to join up. In eases of suckness direct telephone communication was a great boon. The settlers were also in need of telephone communication from a flood point of view. In this respect a farmer had only to lose one beast in a flood to pay for the telephone subscription for one year. Those connected up would also be able to send and receive telegrams per telephone. Consignees could receive information re goods in transit, another advantage to the farmer. With an increase in the subscribers to the local exchange, it was possible that an all night service would eventuate. This of course, would mean increased fees, but an all night service could not be forced on the subscribers. It rested purely with them. Mr Newton then gave the settlers details of party-line connections and presentted figures in connection with the cost of same. The Foxton exchange included Himatangi, Oroua Downs, and the Manawatu Heads to all of which Moutoa and Marotiri residents could connect up with without extra charge. The Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) said that it would be greatly to the benefit of the settlers to link up with the Foxton exchange. Mr Newton said that the Foxton exchange was preferable to Shannon by reason of the extension of hours of service and in case of a line or ’phone becoming out of order the fault could be remedied far quicker from Foxton. . Various questions were then answered and as a result of the meeting quite a number of settlers decided to link up with the Foxton exchange.

A motion proposed by Mr W. T. Jewell and seconded by Mr W. H. Smith, Avas also carried to the effect. that the Chamber endeavour to obtain a better mail service for Moutoa.

Votes of thanks were accorded the members of the Chamber and the meeting terminated.