F.—l

26

OCEAN CABLE SERVICES. The overseas cable services were maintained throughout the year without serious interruption. For some years the Pacific cable has been fully loaded, and tenders are being called for the duplication of the two northern sections —i.e., Vancouver to Fanning Island, and Fanning Island to Fiji. The sections from Fiji southward were duplicated in 1923. When the additional outlet is available the traffic will be disposed of promptly. Tenders for the work have closed, and it is expected that the duplication will be completed in September, 1926. At the present time the Pacific cable carries a load of approximately twelve million paying words of traffic annually, and is worked to its fullest capacity. During the year 1905 the number of words sent from New Zealand over the Pacific cable system was 891,414, whereas for the year 1924-25 the number was 3,281,262. This fact illustrates the great use which is made of the cable ; and the partner Governments —viz., Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—are to be congratulated on the success of this State venture. Daily Letter Cable Messages. The daily letter-telegram service, when introduced in September, 1923, was restricted to messages exchanged with Canada and the United Kingdom. On the Ist September, 1924, the system was extended via the Eastern Extension Company's route to the United States. Three months later the same company notified that daily letter-telegrams would henceforth be accepted for most British possessions, including India, Ceylon, British Central, East, and West Africa, and the Union of South Africa. The principal omissions are the Commonwealth of Australia and Fiji; but to those places the night letter-telegram service is available. Daily letter-telegrams may be sent at any time throughout the week, and are delivered by messenger after the expiry of forty-eight hours from the time of lodgment. In most cases the rate is one-quarter of the ordinary rate, with a minimum charge as for twenty words. The daily letter-telegram service marks the inauguration of a cheap and reasonably prompt cable service practically throughout the Empire. By making use of this service cable-users in the Dominion will save a large sum annually. Week-end Cable Messages. The week-end cable service to Canada and Great Britain and Ireland was maintained by the Pacific Cable Board throughout the year. At several periods these messages were subject to heavy delay owing to the congestion of all classes of traffic. Notwithstanding the introduction in September, 1923, of the daily letter service, the number of week-end messages sent to the United Kingdom (25,549) was slightly in excess of the number despatched during the previous year. War-tax on Cable Messages. The tax of 2d., known as a war-tax, and imposed since 1915, on each cable message forwarded from the Dominion was abolished as from the Ist April, 1924. Extended Use of " Pacific and Marconi Route." The use of the route " via Pacific and Marconi," which has been open for some time for full-rate messages, was made available on the 6th August, 1924, for deferred daily letter and week-end traffic. Reduction in Rates. From the Ist April, 1925, the rates via Eastern for full-rate and deferred cable messages to any part of the United States of America are being reduced to equal those chargeable for messages sent via Pacific. Intercolonial Night Letter-telegram System. Although the night letter-telegram service to Australia has been in operation less than a year, its popularity is indicated by the fact that during March, 1925, 3,797 such messages were despatched to and 2,838 received from the Commonwealth. The rate for this class of message is 3s. for twenty words or less, and 2d. for each word in excess of twenty words. This is less than half the rate for ordinary messages, which is 4|d. per word. The rate fixed for a minimum of twenty words in a night letter-telegram to Fiji varies according to the locality —from ss. lOd. in the case of Suva to Bs. Id. in the case of Labassa, Taviuni, and Savusavu. Intercolonial night letter-telegrams are transmitted on the day of lodgment, and are posted at the office of destination for delivery by first post on the following morning. WIRELESS. WIRELESS TRAFFIC. The number of forwarded and received radio messages shows an increase of 16-91 per cent, and 13-70 per cent, respectively. The amounts earned by New Zealand show an increase under both headings of 15-60 per cent, and 8-54 per cent, respectively. The number of words of paid forwarded radio Press'telegrams increased from 98,607 to 123,018 ; 8,497 words of Press news were broadcasted free of charge to all ships and coast stations within range of Awanui.