TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 219, 14 March 1912, Page 3

TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MANAWATU Palmerston N v March 10. An interesting discussion*ontelephone communication ioi, farmers took place at' yesterday's meeting of the Palmerston- branch of the Farmers' Union. The chairman, Mr. J. Balsillie, brought up the matter. He said* he had lately Tjj|ite(i:., the,, Hawke's Bay district, and was struck! with the cheapness of telephone communication there. The county councils had taken the matter up, with good results." The councils ,erected the poles, while the farmer only had to pay for the wire and the machine. The cost of this was very small, amounting to about .£9 for about 24 miles of wire, and about \£3 per annum for the use of the machine. Each farmer was connected" with a central bureau, and could communicate with outside districts as well as his own. Farmers were recognising the advantage of installing telephones at such cheap rates, and were quickly obtaining them. Mr. Balsillie considered that something of this kind was wanted in the Manawatu, and there was no reason why a similar scheme should not be adopted. The secretary was instructed to write to the Hawke's Bay County Council and obtain all information concerning the telephone sys-1 tern in that district. It was ajso considered that there was no reason why the: various county councils around Palmerston should not combine in the mat- i ter. • /