FREE CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1939, Page 5

FREE CABLES

TWELVE THOUSAND MESSAGES. (Per Press Association.—Copyright). AUCKLAND, May 1. Outward cablegrams from New Zealand to-day reached a total far in excess of anything previously experienced, even at the usual busy periods of Christmas and New Year, as a result of the scheme to transmit social messages free to mark the institution of the new reduced fates to Britain. With New Zealand time 10 and a half hours ahead of Britain the Dominion led the Empire in the period during which the cablegrams were transmitted free and the rush will continue to-morrow and on Wednesday before all the messages are sent and received. Approximately 12,000 messages were received for transmission'- from the whole of New Zealand in comparison with the normal daily, nuifibet-' of 1000. Telegraphic ' circuit's in - the ‘ Dominion were-.kept very "busy bringing the cablegrams to the Auckland office of Cable and Wireless, Ltd., through which all overseas messages must pass, and the .cable office is! working at full pressure to have the messages delivered •within- 48 hours. : At the receiving counter in'.the - Chief. Post .Office six officials were kept- busy with queues of people all day, and the rush did not ease until about 6.30. All evening, however, (messages were - pouring in over the telegraph lines from other parts of the Dominion.