PACIFIC CABLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1926, Page 5

PACIFIC CABLE

RATES TO BE REDUCED.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.)

LONDON. November 30

Business men are asking when the Pacific Cable Board, intends to carry out its promised reduction in the rates. Officially, the Board is unaware of such a promise being made, but it realises the necessity for a reduction as soon as it is practicable. Sir James Allen, speaking in Canada, from intimate knowledge of the Board’s intentions, predicted that a reduction was likely when the duplication had been completed. An authority closely connected with the Board says that the new cable is working efficiently. The BamfieldFanning Island section has consideiably exceeded the contract specification with a speed of thirteen hundred letters per minute. The trans-Can-adian lines are at present the only drag on four-folding the transmission capacity. The completion of an additional land line at the end of February should enable the cable to be used at full capacity. It would then be possible to ascertain the working costs, and what cuts are permissible. The Board has not decided on the extent of the. reduction, but several, members consider that it. should at least be based on the proposed beam wireless tariff. The rates for ordinary deferred, -week-end, and press messages should be respectively. 2/-,. 1/-, 6d and fivepence at most. They, consider that the costs of the reduce tions should be evenly borne by. the. Board and, the, British 'and Australian Postal Departments.