F.—l

12

Ocean Cable Services. The number of cable messages, excluding Press, sent from New Zealand to international offices during the year shows an increase of 0-52 per cent, on the number sent during 1920-21, and the number sent to Australian offices shows a decrease of 9-13 per cent. Messages received from international offices decreased by 3-92 per cent., and messages from Australia by 12-85 per cent. The proportion of cable messages sent " via Pacific " was less than that sent by the same, route the previous year, the percentages being 68 and 70 respectively. The following table shows the total number of cable messages forwarded by each route during each of the past five years, and also the percentage of such traffic falling to each : —

Press messages numbering 1,407 were sent via Pacific and 1,851 via Kastern, compared with 1,203 and 1,946 respectively during 1920-21. The number received via, Pacific was 9,553 and via Eastern 2,432, compared with 7,196 and 2,726 respectively. The number of cable, messages forwarded at the deferred rate was 15,712, compared with 17,668, a decrease of 1,956, or 11-07 per cent. The number of week-end messages despatched was 15,488, Hie number received being 7,906. Resumption of Week-end, Messages via Pacific. Alter being suspended for over four years, owing to the congestion of the overseas cables, flic Pacific Cable Board announced early in 1921 that week-end cable messages would again be accepted for transmission by the Pacific route. The service has become very popular, and is being largely availed of. The Eastern Extension Company is still unable to accept week-end messages. "Christmas Greetings" Cable Messages. Cable messages conveying Christmas or New Year greetings addressed lo any place in the United Kingdom or Canada were accepted from the 20th to the 28th December I'm' transmission via Pacific at Bd. pei- word, with a minimum of 6s. Bd., for messages to the United Kingdom, and 6d. per word, with a minimum of 55., for messages to Canada. The number of messages sent to the United Kingdom was 1,377, and to Canada 43. Increase in- Charge, on Cable Press Telegrams. On the 15th May, 1921, the New Zealand terminal rate on Press telegrams exchanged with the Commonwealth of Australia, Fiji, and Norfolk Island was increased from (id. to Is. 6d. per 100 words or fraction thereof. The Australian terminal rate was also increased on the same date. Proposed Duplication of the Pacific Cable. For some time past the Pacific Cable Board has been considering (he question of duplication of the Pacific cable, and during the year definite proposals were placed before the partner Governments, and some of them, including New Zealand, have approved of them. For some years the Pacific cable, has been worked up to its full capacity, but has been greatly congested. The proposed increased facilities would not only reduce the delay on cable messages for America and Europe transmitted over the Pacific Cable Board's route, but also provide against interruptions. New Zealand Submarine-cable Service. The length of submarine cable in use in the Dominion is 416 knots. Only one defect developed in the submarine cables during the year, and this appeared in the Wanganui-Wakapuaka section, which was laid in 1880, this being only the fourth defect that has developed since this cable was laid. Wireless Telegraphy. The number of forwarded radio messages shows an increase of 7-85 per cent., and the number of received messages a decrease of 3-23 per cent. The amounts earned by New Zealand, however, show a decrease under both headings of 74 and 10-96 per cent, respectively. The number of words of forwarded radio Press telegrams increased from 36,314 to 90,718. On the score of economy, the hours at Radio-Awarua, have been curtailed. That station is now in attendance only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and. its functions are confined to the reception of distress or other urgent signals 'from ships at sea and to the handling of short-range traffic relating particularly to navigation in local waters. Certain changes are being made at Radio-Auckland by means of which it is expected that further economy in connection with radio telegraphic communication will be effected.

Year. 1917-18 1918 19 1919 20 1920-21 1921-22 Pacific. Messages. 114,046 103,347 139,772 159,896 147,781 Pacific. Percentage of Total. 63 59 67 70 68 Year. 1917-18 1918-19 1919-20 1920 21 1921-22 Kastern. Messages. 66,318 70,591 68,832 68,406 69,515 Percentage of Total. 37 ■11 33 30 32