EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 17 April 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

SITTING IN SYDNEY. By Telenranh -Pre6s Association—OoDrrisfit Sydney, April IG. Tho Empire Trade Commission is taking evidence in Sydney.' Mr.' Milivard, manager of the Pacific Cable Board, , was examined. Ho said that .since 1901 the Pacific Cable's proportion of the Australian traffic had increased by 15 to "25 per centum. While in Now Zealand in 1901 tho Pacific cable carried 88 per centum of the traffic, it .now carried G9 per centum. The reduction had been due to the company's opponents adopting, more, energetic methods. As (o (he question of saving by'any'"pooling" arrangement, a very material factor to he considered was whether if the offices of tho two companies were closed;' and the business done 'through., the Post Office, this would do aivay with the Pacific Board's' office. If so, it would mean a probable saving of JGSOOO per annum, and by dispensing with canvassers an additional,saving of.'jKOOO. or .£3OOO would be made. The Pacific, cablo had improved its prospects lately by putting down a direct cable between Sydney'and Auckland, and another from Auckland to the northern part of the North Island. It was anticipated that thero would be a considerable advance in the volumo of business between Australia and Britain, and Australasia, Canada,' and tho United States. Only 33 per centum of the Pacific cable's carrying capacity was being ■used. * Deferred cables had increased in number from 12,278 words iii January, 1912, :to 13,613 in January, 1913. Since then, the number had shown a still more T4pid increase.

AN ACCUSATION OF APATHY, i ' ■ ■ (Rec.; April 1G,■ 10.5 p.m:) Sydney, April 16. One of. the most interesting features of the ovidence before tlie Trade Commission was the, criticism whereto British manufacturers were, subjected by -Jfr. Johnson, Chief Commissioner of New South Wales Railways and tramways, w.iio complained strongly of their apathy, in'regard to the opportunities of trildc in the Overseas Dominions.' l<'or instance, ho had had tho greatest difficulty early, in 1913 in getting a quotation for thirty thousand tons of rails, which he declared was due to ail arrangement fc; "pool" orders between tho English, American,. and Continental manufacturers of rails.