11

F.—B

WEEK-END CABLE-LETTER SERVICE.

No. 2. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London 8.W., Sir,— 2nd February, 1912. I have the honour to enclose, for your information, copy of a letter received by the Pacific Cable Board from Mr. J. Mil ward, the Manager in the Pacific, enclosing extract from the the Telegraph and Telephone Age, of New York, of the 16th September last, with regard to the daily cable-letter and the week-end cable-letter. The Board will endeavour to arrange for a " week-end cable " to New Zealand and Australia, and further inquiiy is being made. The present service extends only to Canada and the United States of America, and I consider that New Zealand should have similar advantages. 1 have, &c, Wm. Hall-Jones. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Wellington. New Zealand. [P.O. Press 12/10.] Enclosure 1 in No. 2. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the London Manager and Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir. Dixson's Buildings, 64 Pitt Street, Sydney. 29th November, 1911. The attached cutting is taken from the Telegraph and Telephone Age, New York, o Kitli September, and is part of a statement issued by Mr. Theo. X. Vail, president of the Western Union Telegraph Company, in regard to the transatlantic cable situation. 11 has probably already been brought to the notice of the Board. My object in referring to it now is probable arrangements can be made to give the public of Australasia the benefits of the foreshadowed \\e<.!<-end cable-letter rate across the Atlantic. There is, 1 think, little doubt that such a facility would be made considerable use of between Australasia and England, and a material addition to our revenue might result from utilizing tl hours of our cable from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning at even a very cheap rate of, per word, as the Board's proportion of the total charge for plain-language messages. I am, &c, J. MILWARD, .Manager in the Pacific. The London Manager and Secretary, Pacific Cable Hoard, London. Enclosure 2 in No. 2. News Extract. [Telegraph and Telephone Age, New York, 16th September, 1911.] So soon as the proposed arrangement goes into effect, the.Western Union purposes, with the consent of the British Post Office Department, to introduce at least two new features or services in addition to the proposed deferred rate—the daily cable-letter and the week-end cable-letter—at a very low rate for cable service only. This will enable the public to save the six to eight days consumed in the transatlantic passage of mails.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the London Manager \ni> Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir, Dixson's Buildings, 64 Pitt Street, Sydney. 29th November, 1911. The attached cutting is taken from the Telegraph and Telephone Age, New York, o Mitli September, and is part of a statement i isued by Mr. Theo. N. Vail, presi l< c Western Union Telegraph Company, in regard to the transatlantic cable situation, it has probably already been brought to the notice of the Board. My object in referring to it now is probable arrangements can be made to give the public of Australasia the benefit i of the foreshadowed week-end cable-letter rate across the Atlantic. There is, I think, little doubt that such a facility would be made considerable v ween Australasia and England, and a material addition to our revenue might result from utilizing tl hours of our cable from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning at even a very cheap rate of, per word, as the Board's proportion of the total charge for plain-language messages. I am, &c, J. Mii.wauii. .Manager in the Pacific. The London Manager and Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, London.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. News Extract. [Telegraph and Telephone Age, New York, 16th September, 1911.] So soon as the proposed arrangement goes into effect, the.Western Union purposes, with the consent of the British Post Office Department, to introduce at least two new features or services in addition to the proposed deferred rate—the daily cable-letter and the week-end cable-letter—at a very low rate for cable service only. This will enable the public to save the six to eight days consumed in the transatlantic passage of mails.

No. 3. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., Sir,- Bth March, 1912. rJJ 1 have the honour to enclose copy of a letter I have received from the Chairman of the Pacific Cable Board with regard to the question of extending to the Pacific Cable system the scheme for weekend cable-letters, which has recently been introduced on the Atlantic system between this country and Canada and the United States of America. It will be seen that, before formulating a definite proposal on the subject, the Board desires to know the terms on which the Government of the Dominion would be willing to co-operate, and I shall accordingly be obliged if you will, so soon as the enclosed letter has received your consideration, cable