PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 84, 16 April 1913, Page 6

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

EVIDENCE BEFORE THE TRADE

COMMISSION,

(Received 10.5 a.m.) Sydney, April 16. The Empire Trade Commission is taking evidence in Sydney. Mr Milhvard, manager of the Pacific Cable Board, was examined. He said that since 1904 the Pacific Cable Board’s proportion of Australian traffic increased from 15 to 25 per cent., while in New Zealand in 1904 thePatific Cable carried 88 and was now 69 per cent.. The reduction was due to its opponents supporting a more energetic method as, a question of saving any pooling arrangements. A very material factor, he considered, was whether if the offices of -the two companies were closed and business done • through post office, it would do away with the Pacific office. It would mean, probably' a saving of £BOOO per annum, and to dispense with canvassers would mean ap additional saving of £2OOO to £3OOO. The, Pacific had improved its prospects lately by putting in a direct cable between Sydney and Auckland, and another from Auckland tot he northern pare of the North Island. He anticipated a considerable advance in bus cess between Australia and Britain, and bobetween Australia and Canada and United States. Only 33 per cent, of the Pacific cable’s carrying capacity was used. Deferred cables increased from 12,278 words in January, 1912, to 13,718 in January, 1913. Since then it had shown a’ still more rapid : increase.