PACIFIC CABLE BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18787, 14 February 1923, Page 7

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD

THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS. PROPOSED NEW CABLES. Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, February 13. Tlie Paeilie Cable Board’s surplus for last year totalled £210,257, of winch £IOO,OOO will bo allocated for duplication purposes. Despite the increase in the in teriiational traffic, the receipts fell short of those of tho previous vear by £98,500. due largely to the reinstatement of the week-end cheap services. (Received Feb. 13, at 8.5 p.m.) The Pacific Cable Board’s report refers to the frequency of interruptions in the neighbourhood of Norfolk Island as dis

quieting, and adds: “The precarious conditions at this point constitute a serious menace to the complete continuity ot the board's service. With a view to over coming those disabilities the- board proposes to lav new cables between Suva and Auckland direct, and between Southport and Sydney.” The report says that the proposals for duplicating the Pacific cable have been submitted to tho partner Governments, but notwithstanding the need for increased facilities, the board lias deferred for a short time the carrying into effect of that part of the scheme relating to additional communication between Canada and Fiji.

The report mentions that the new system of working at Auckland with Cox magnifiers and' interpolators and creed printers has fulfilled air expectations, and has resulted in a large reduction in the. Auckland staff. Last year in addition to international traffic 2,300,000 paying words were sent between Australia and New Zealand, and between those dominions and the Pacific islands, which were 200.000 fewer than in the nrevious year. Tne international traffic for the year totalled 8.500.000 paying words—an increase of 600.000 words.—A. and N.Z. Cable.