POST AND TELEGRAPH.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 8 September 1917, Page 2

POST AND TELEGRAPH.

ANNUAL VOTE OF NEARLY MILLION AND A HALF. PACIFIC GABLE PAYING. " (Per Pi'css Association). "WELLINGTON, Septemoer 7. la the House ihis afternoon, Class 111. of the Estimates (Post and Tele-" 'graph Department .t'l.-iofi,oSG) Was' talten. Replying to the lion, It, ][, ltliodes, Sir Joseph Ward said no vote appeared this year for the Pacific cable, because the cable was now paying, and no vote was required. It was not pps-.: siblc to secure further cable collect !.ions during (he Ayaj', but arrangements . were in course of development which lie was not able to disclose, which , would considerably improve the ruble iacilities. Up also stressed the point that he could not, and would not, provide large sums for new post oflices until l the war was over. He was cn--' tiiely in synipthy wiili the proposal to, lay a cable across Cook Straits for telephone purposes. The present cables' were not entirely suitable for this purpose, and the lines were rarely availaide, because they were needed for telegraphic work. There was a good deal of difficulty in laying such a cable at present, but as soon as possible he promised to have such a cable laid. The vote was passed after a lengthv discussion.