THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 90, 16 April 1913, Page 5

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

ITS SHARE OF THE TRAFFIC. I POSSIBILITIES OF A POOL. (Received 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Empire Trade Commission is taking evidence in Sydney. Mr Mihvard (manager of the Pacific Cable Board), examined, said that since 1904 tiic Pacific cable proportion of the Australian traffic had increased by 15,025 per cent. While in New Zealand in 1904 the Pacific cable carried SS per cent, it now carried 69 per cent of the traffic. The reduction was due to their opponents adopting more energetic methods. ■ As to the question of saving by any pooling arrangement, a very material factor to be considered was whether the offices of the two companies would be. closed, and the business done through the post office. To do away with the Pacific office would mean a probable saving of £3,000 a year, and to dispense with canvassers would mean an additional saving of £2,000 or £3,000. The Pacific cable had improved prospects, and had lately put a direct cable between Sydney and Auckland, and another from Auckland to the northern part of the North Island. He anticipated a considerable advance in business between Australia and Britain, and Australasia and Canada and the Tjnited States Only 33 per cent of the Pacific cable's carrying capacity was used. Deferred cables bad increased frem 12.2 8 words in January, 1912, to. 13,618 in January, 1913, and since then had shown a still more rapid increase. -