MAILS, CABLES, AND PHONES

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 210, 4 September 1911, Page 5

MAILS, CABLES, AND PHONES

NEW LINE TO SYDNEY. CUTTING OUT COAST STATION'S. BETTER ANT) CHEAPER TELEPHONES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Sir -Joseph Ward made some important statements in regard to cable services and carriage of mails at the letter-carriers' dinner on Saturday. There was. he said, a movement for uniformity of postage stamps, but he held strongly to the opinion that :t would be a great mistake for different parts of the Empire to have a uniform stamp. The individuality oi each country should be preserved. New Zealand's extraordinarily magnificent scenery was good reason for this. In regard to interchange of Civil Servants, he saw no reason why members of the Post and Telegraph Department; should not exchange with members of j Great Britain's service. An interchange would promote the exchange of ideas, and our officers would bring back valuable information. The Imperial Conference, he said, had agreed upon a definite course of action in regard to the penny postage system. Every opportunity would be availed of to bring other countries into line. England, Franc*, and America had come j into line, and Germany could not lag 'behind. The Conference had decided that the system should be extended. The revenue of the Post and Telegraph Department of New Zealand was the highest of any country in the world in proportion to population. It exceeded one million pounds last year, equal to one pound per head of population. Xinety-six and a-balf million letters were posted in New Zealand last year, and over one hundred million were delivered. In addition to this nearly eight million postcards and twenty-four million newspapers were delivered. Some time ago the Pacific Cable Board decided to lay down a new cable between New Zealand and Australia This scheme was prevented for the time I being owing to disagreement in regard to the proportion of cost to be borne by the British Government. Mr. Asquith had informed him that the question would be reconsidered before long. He hoped there would be a second cable laid from New Zealand to Sydney. Doubtless Bay would be abandoned, and the present cable would be brought over from the coast, and carried through pipes to the Auckland telegraph office, resulting in the dispatch of messages from Auckland to Sydney as rapidly as | from Auckland to Bluff. Similar arrange inents would be made on the other side; instead of the cable ending at La Perouse, it would be earned through a pipe to Sydney. The telephone habit was growing to such an extent in the country that the Government had decided to get an uptodate system installed. He was san,guine that before long they w-ould be able to materially reduce the telephone fee to subscribers at a distance, and additional facilities would be provided for establishing private lines. THE DIRECT CABLE. WORKING IN SIX MONTHS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed on the subject of the new cable, stated that it would be Auckland to Sydney direct. The "hole matter had been agreed to by the Pacific Cable Board. All that was required was the authority of the British Treasury. Mr. Asquith promised at the Imperial Conference that this matter would receive early consideration, and he (Sir Joseph) expected to receive further information on the subject shortly. Under this arrangement the new cable will be landed near Auckland, probably on the Onehunga side, to avoid navigation channels. From the landing point the cable will be carried through a pipe right into the telegraph office at Auckland, -which will become the cable station, and Doubtless Bay will be closed •up. the cable operations being transferred to Auckland. It is expected, said Sir Joseph Ward, that the -whole thing will be in full swing within six months. Messages between New Zealand and Australia will go direct, instead of via Norfolk as at present. UP-TO-DATE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. f>ir Joseph Ward, speaking at a letter carriers' social at Wellington on Satur dav night, sa.id it was intended to bring the telephone system in this country right up-to-date in every respect. The system to be selected would be the cheapest and most effective, and he was sanguine that before very long Chey would be able to reduce the rates for long-distance telephoning. One could not help recognising the importance of people, who lived from 50 to 100 miles distant from the chief centres of activity, being able to get into touch with these places by telephone. He was positive that before long the cost of these long-distance communications would be reduced. Additional facilities also would be given for private lines.