F.-i.

CABLE BUSINESS. Hereunder are shown the number and value of cable messages forwarded from New Zealand during the financial year 1916-17, in comparison with the figures for 1915-16 : —

Via Pacific.

Via Eastern.

The Dominion's outward International and Australian cable business, excluding Press, for the same two years was as follows : — International. Number of Value. Messages. £ 1916-17 ... ... ... 82,582 ... ... 100,752 1915-16 ... ... ... 80,124 100,216 Increase 2,458 = 3 per cent. 536 = 053 per cent. Australian. Number of Value. Messages. £ 1916-17 ... ... ... 79,926 ... ... 20,716 1915-16 ... ... ... 90,711 ... ... 22,999 Decrease 10,785 = 11-89 per cent. 2,283 = 9-92 per cent. There was a total decrease of 8,327 messages, and a decrease in value of £1,747.

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Ordii iary. Pn is. Destination. Number of Messages. Value. Number of Messages. Value I international... Australian ... 57,429 ... 57,289 £ 65,939 14,614 140 352 £ 265 119 Totals for 1916-17 ... 114,718 114,718 80,553 492 384 Totals for 1915-16 ... 114,151 114,151 78,145 963 485

Destination. Ordinary. ~~ Number of y , Messages. Number of Messages. Press. Value. International... Australian £ ... 25,153 34,813 ... 22,637 6,102 51 1,372 £ 197 695 Totals for 1916-17 ... 47,790 40,915 47,790 40,915 1,423 892 Totals for 1915-16 ... 56,684 45,070 56,684 45,070 1,542 899