THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19764, 15 April 1926, Page 9

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

WORK OF DUPLICATION. A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, April 14. • Mr Percy Hunter, general manager in the Pacific for the Pacific Cable Board, is on a visit to New Zealand, and in an interview this morning said his visit was a business one, connected with cable work. Mr Hunter only recently took over control of the Pacific cable, relinquishing in order to do so the office of Director of Australian Immigration Services. In this capacity he had charge of all the immigration to Australia, with staffs in London and Australia. “I have lost no time,” said Mr Hunter, “after my appointment in coming to New Zealand to make mys If acquainted with the board’s operations in the Dominion. The Pacific Cable Board holds New Zealand connections to the line, and the New Zealand business in the highest esteem, and they desire me to watch with jealous eye the interest of New Zealand cablers. This 1 propose to do, and I am proceeding to Wellington to-morrow to confer with the heads of the New Zealand services and with Mr A. T. Markman in particular, and to pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, with the object of straightening out any difficulties that exist and discussing future plans of mutual interest. As the Pacific cable was the greatest achievement in cable history at the time of its laying by reason of the length of line and the depth of water traversed, so the coming duplication of the cable will again mark an epoch in cabling, as the new line will, considering the distance, be a vast improvement in speed, the rate at which messages are now transferred being multiplied by about 10. When this duplication is accomplished, which event is epectxed early next summer, the board will be able to corry practically unlimited business at fast rates, and all the troubles of congestion and delays should become things of the past Breaks of the line have been practically unknown on the Pacific cable, and with the duplication they will present fewer difficulties in future.” "Is there likely to be any reduction of rak's'.’” Mr Hunter was asked. “it is. of course, the desire of the Pacific * Cable Board to provide the best service at the cheapest possible rate,” said Mr Hunter, “and they have shown this by establishing and maintaining the cheap wek-end cablegrams at the expense even of their higher rate traffic, but there are many things to be considered before the rates are again reduced. It should not be forgotten that working expenses are continually mounting, but carders can rest assured that the moment u is found possible fay the volume of business to make a furiher reduction the Pacific Board will seize the opportunity to do so. ••The Empire cable was originally established to provide a link between the component parts of the Empire, irrespective of profit making,” said Mr Hunter, “and this object has ever guided the policy of the board and is the guiding principle in their decisions to-day. The profits _ already accrued in working the line are satisfactory, which it is pleasing to note because it indicates that the board’s business has not only been well supported by the public but has also been efficiently conducted. The whole of these profits to the extent of almost £2,250,000 is. in accordance with the board’s policy, being expended in providing further cabling facilities _ for the public, and it is hoped to continue fhst policy of extending and providing other necessary duplications. The public ran rest assured that their interests are being well conserved.” . Mr R. S. Bain, one of the prominent officials of the board, and who is well known here, has recently been promoted to the position of general superintends of the services.