DELAYED CABLEGRAMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 4

DELAYED CABLEGRAMS

PROTEST BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The delay in tho transmission of cablegrams is tho subject of a letter addressed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerco to the Postmaster-General. Tho chamber raised the matter in April last, and wns assured then by tho Secretary of tho Postal Department that every effort would bo mado to relieve the congestion on the cables. The Secretary reported to tlio ohamber later regarding tho con. dltion of the Pacific and Eastern Extension lines.

The position docs not seem to have im« proved lately, and the delay in tho transmission of cablegrams is a very serious matter for importing houses in Wellington. Cabled offers and acceptances are heid up for days, and even weeks, when under normal conditions they would bo transmitted in a few hours. "I need hardly stress that nowaday!) practically all our export business and a great deal of our import business _ is effected through tho cable service," writes tho secretary of the chamber (Mr. S. D. Yickery), "and at this poriod particularly, when prices are uncertain and subject to earlv fluctuation, it is imperative tlmt nothing should be left undono which can assist in remedying the present unfortunate state of affairs. Bigntly or wrongly the commercial community feels that Press, and, possibly, what may not always be important Government messages, aro being given preference to commercial cablegrams. My chamber feels that the delay in the transmiasioji of cablegrams is tho most serious question which is adversely affecting the commercial community at the present timo, and they respectfully seek your assistance to 'remedy tho present 6tato of affairs. .Commercial houses in Wellington would have liked to have formed a deputation to you to strengthen their representations'to you in this matter, but I understand you will not bo in Wellington during tho 'coming week." This nrotest has been addressed to the Acting-Postmaster-General, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, who has already made some inquiries regarding the position of the cable companies. The congested state of the cables, according to tho ccblo companies, is due primarily to tho heavy Government traffic. It is admitted, at the same time, that commercial, traflio has been particularly heavy during recent months, owing to the resumption of industries and .the diversion of effort from war channels.