THE TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3433, 12 March 1920, Page 6

THE TELEPHONE SERVICE.

DEPARTMENTFS FORWARD MOVE. WELLII\‘GTON, March 3. The Postnmster-General (Hen. J. G. Coates) announced to-day: “In 01'der to make it easy for any settler to ccmnect his house or homesteadf

by a private wire with the nearest telephone ofllce. the Department will undertake to sell settlers at actual cost the material for telephone construction on 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 instalments ‘to be of such an amount as will pay off both ;principal and interest in a period of ten years. Until the whole of the ’principal is repaid, the materials reLmain the property of the Post and ‘Telegraph Department. The. scheme. of course, refers only to private liners‘ intended to connect with the Depart-; ment's system, and not to private‘ lines intended for private inter-com—' munication apart from the Departmen~t’s system. Summed up, the position will be that settlers desiring 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 wil also, through a private line license. obtain the assistance and advice of the De-

}pal'tlnentl’s engineers in the ex-ectioll ‘or the line. If the settlers tlleln:’;elves can supply the poles, and possibly the wire and insula-tors and labourfor erecting a line, the work of construction will cost them nothing, as the Departnieiit will provide superviision of the work by an engineer free. The greatest difficulty has been exDeriencetl by the Department in ting materials. I am glad to say tlmt at present the Department. has ‘iair supplies of telephones and insulators, and further supplies are on order. Wire suitable for country‘ lines iS available in fair quantities, but just now the greatest. difficulty confronting the Department is the supply (W poles of suitable hardwood. Betweeii 20,000 and 30,000 poles are awaiting shipment in Australia. As soon as these poles arrive it will be possible. to make a start. with several worksj :rlread_v authorised to connect up‘ many backblocks districts. The De-I par-tment will then be able to go on] with some of the many party lim‘-s’, connections with telephone exchanges ‘ which have been held up for so long‘ for want of poles.