PACIFIC CABLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 103, 5 May 1925, Page 8

PACIFIC CABLE

TENDERS FOR DUPLICATION

PROBABLE REDUCTION IN

RATES.

The Postmaster-General announces that a telegram was received on the 14th instant from the High Commissioner, informing the Government that tenders havo been received by the Pacific Cable Board from British companies, for duplicating the two northern, sections of the Pacific cable, viz., the section from Bamfield (Vancouver Island) to Fanning Island, the length of which is 3453 nautical miles, and from Fanning Island to Fiji, the length of the second section being 2043 nautical miles. The Pacific Cable Board experts are of the opinion that the tenders, which the board proposes to accept, comply with all requirements, and are the lowest ■of those offered. . A further telegram received on the 27th instant, states that contracts were placed on the 24th idem, as follows : With : the Telegraph Con-iiji-uction and Maintenance Company, Limited, for a iriumetal loaded cable from Vancouver to Fanning Island, and .with Messrs; Siemens Bros, and Company for a permalloy-loaded cable between Fanning Island and Fiji respectively. The date for the completion of both duplications is fixed for September, 1926. . . . * '

The cost of the original Pacific cable between Vancouver and Southport, Queensland,'was £1,795,000, the cost of the two northern sections being £1 - 4fe5,960. 'In view of the greatly increased cost of material, it is anticipated that the cost of duplication will exceed the original cost by about one million pounds. As, however, the board haa over £2,000,000 in the reserve and renewal fund, the resources are adequate to provide, for the carrying out of the worK of duplication. It is interesting to note that the section from Bamfield to Fanning, Island far exceeds in length any other stretch of, cable in.the world' and lies at great depth, the soundings <!800 to-3400-fathoms.

It will be recollected that in 1923 the lacific system was duplicated from Fiji southwards by the laying of two cablesone from Suva, to Auckland and one Jrom Southport, Queensland, to Sydney I here is thus an alternative route between .Fiji and Sydney, one route via .Norfolk Island and Southport, and the other via Auckland. . There is a direct cable connecting the Post Office, Auckland, with the General Post Office, Sydney; this cable was laid by the. board in 1912.

;; In 1603-4 the first complete year during which the Pacific cable was in operation, the number of words transmitted was 864,969. At the present time the I?mnnmneS ? load of aPPro«™tely 12,000,000 paying words of traffic aiintwlly, and is worked to its fullest capacity. During the year 1905 tho number of words sent from New Zealand over the Pacific cable system was 891 414 whereas for the year 1923-24, tho number was 2 900,838. _ This fact presents a fairly reliable illustration of the great use which is made of cable which is btate-owned by Great Britain, Australia., Canada, and New Zealand. When tho cable is duplicated it is anticipated that a reduction in rates will take place, which under ordinary circumstances means increased business, and, together with that increase, a more rapid service will be available.