CABLES TO AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23492, 5 May 1938, Page 16

CABLES TO AUSTRALIA

LINE FKOM AUCKLAND ONLY ALLEGED CAUSE OF DELAY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 4. The statement that cable messages to and from Wellington were sometimes delayed because they had to go through Auckland, the former city having no direct cable connection with Australia, was made by Captain S. Holm at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. Letters were received from Mr E. Wilshaw. chairman of Cables and Wireless, Ltd., London, and Mr W. R. Rutherford, manager of the Auckland branch of the Pacific Cable Board, referring to the inauguration on April 25 of reductions in overseas telegraph charges under the new Empire flat rate scheme. On the motion of Captain Holm, it was decided to reply expressing appreciation of the reductions, but pointing out the disability from which the southern part of the Dominion sometimes suffered. An amendment moved by Mr M. G. C. McCaul, that the latter part of the resolution be omitted, found no support.

Several years ago, Captain Holm said, the Post and Telegraph Department had stated that the idea was to concentrate the service between New Zealand and Australia on the Auckland cable, and to keep the old Wellington cable for use in emergencies only. Later, however, when arose it was found that 500 miles of the Wellington cable had been lifted to repair supposedly the new Auckland cable.

"I think that they put one over us—in fact, that has been admitted by the authorities—and I don't see any harm in reminding them," he said. "If there were any major catastrophe in the middle of the North Island the southern part would be absolutely cut off from communication with the rest of the world." Mr J. Madden said that a large portion of the Wellington cable had been utterly useless. Any parts of value had been recovered, but he did not know what use had been made of them. The use of radio, he thought, largely overcame any danger of part of the Dominion being cut off from communication with the outside world.

"Where does the remedy lie?" asked the president (Mr P. E. Pattrick). "It seems to me that our course should be to remind the department that Wellington is the central point of radiation, and to ask that when further cables are laid Wellington's claims should be considered."

"The cost of laying a new cable between Wellington and Sydney would be enormous," Mr Madden said. "The* authorities have given a great amount of money away in reduced charges, and it seems rather a nasty knock now to question the quality of the service." Another member suggested that the secretary should make his representations "as temperate as possible," and this was agreed to.