CABLE COMMUNICATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 130, 3 June 1936, Page 14

CABLE COMMUNICATION

STORM INTERRUPTIONS NO ALTERNATIVE ROUTE DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE The recent storms, which resulted in interruption of telegraph communication in the North Island, and resultant interruption of cable communication with Australia, were the subject of a letter received by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from the Hon. F. Jones, Postmaster-General. The Postmaster-General wrote:— "Referring to the deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce which waited upon me on the Bth ult. to discuss the question of cable communication between this country and Australia, the question of the proposed trans-Tasman air service, and also the inland air-mail service: I find it somewhat difficult to reply fully to the different points raised, as so many divergent opinions were expressed on the three different subjects by the j members of the deputation.

"It is perhaps necessary to inform the chamber that the cable communication with this country is controlled by the Intercommunications Company of Great Britain, and that it is understood that the business transacted over tha cable is barely sufficient, if not insufficient, to cover the costs of operation; and it must be realised that any improvement in this condition is not likely to take place in the future on account of the inroads of wireless and the development of air mails. "Up to a few years ago there was a cable belonging to the Eastern Extension Company terminating at Wellington, and other cables belonging to the Pacific Cable Board, in which this country was a partner, terminating at Auckland. "The drop in business necessitated amalgamation, with the resultant closing of the Wellington office. "It is a fact that we have had two most unusual storms this year over the North Island which caused temporary interruption of the land lines; and if it were at all likely that further storms of the kind would have the same result it would be necessary to make some provision for the continued handling of cables within New Zealand.

"It must be admitted, however, that those are the only two. interruptions that have occurred for a very long time, and that both were of but short duration. My Department could not possibly consider the question of an alternative cable between Wellington and Sydney on the off-chance that further storms might isolate Auckland from the rest of New Zealand; but it is taking every precaution to ensure that communication between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand will be safeguarded as well as possible."