SHORTAGE OF TELEPHONES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1920, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF TELEPHONES.

DIFFICULTIES sOF THE DEPARTMENT. (By Our Special Reporter.) ■ Stratford, Last Night. Better telephone facilities were asked for by a deputation which waited on the Hon. «T. G. Coates (PostmasterGeneral) at Elthain to-aav. Mr. Coates said he was guided entirely by tiie number of subscribers at the main exchange, and if there were insufficient subscribers, then an extension of the service must bo done by g'narnnlecfi. This procedure could not be .leparted from, as telephone construction in New Zealand was not a profitable expenditure. At present there was a great shortage of telephone material and this rendered it difficult to provide slot machines wherever required. The Government had, however, undertaken certain work and had new undertakings and schemes in hand, such as party lines and settlers lines, which were going to take a good deal of material. The Department urgently required more material, and although ■ it was under order there was great difficulty in getting it from overseas- The Minister promised to let the Mayor know if a coin in the slot telephone should be provided for Eltham.

Referring to the accommodation at the post office, the Minister said he was afraid the Department could do very little to assist at present, but he would eee if anything could be done. He proposed to take authority to include an amount in the estimates next session for a postmaster's residence attached to the post office.