THE RIVAL CABLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7702, 11 May 1903, Page 2

THE RIVAL CABLES.

TO THE KDITOH.

giv, — In the Press Association telegrams from Melbourne, of May 1, a return is published on the authority of the PostmasterGeneral, showing that the error percentage is slightly higher on telegrams exchanged with New Zealand "via Extension'" than " via Pacific." I am, however, in a position to ascertain where the errors are: made, as all telegrams are sent to my office to be rigidly checked for errors. Upon examination, I find that practically the whole cf the errors "via Extension" are made en the Government lines connecting with the company's cables, and not on our cables ; the return, therefore, is only a sad exposure of careless working on the part of the Government operators. The return dt- . self rather naively proves my statement, the percentage from New Soutlr Wales beiag .56 per cent, and from Victoria 1.33 per cent, that is to say, as tlie message proceeded inland, the errors grew nearly threefold. The." accompanying figures are the actual return of the error percentage of our New Zealand station for the .last six months, and speak for themselves. Actual number of words examined, 183,798 ;'j_um•ber of errors made, 27, or one error in every 6000 words, and considering the difiicult code words used in cablegrams nowadays,- I venture to say that this return reflects great credit on the manner this company performs its work for the telegraphic public. lam very pleased to be m a position to state that, so far as the Government lines in New Zealand are concerned, we receive a most efficient service at their hands. — I am, etc. W. WARREN, Manager in Australasia. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company,' Limited Melbourne,, May 2.