29

F.—l

New Zealand - Egypt, Cypbus, Palestine, etc. The ordinary cable rates between New Zealand and Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Abyssinia, Italian Somaliland, Erythrea, Syria, Transjordania, and the Hedjaz were reduced from the Ist May, 1928, by amounts varying from 9d. to lid. per word. To those of the places named which admit the deferred service the relative rate became automatically applicable. From the Ist May, 1928, the daily letter-telegram service from New Zealand was extended to include Egypt and Palestine, the rate being fixed at approximately a quarter of the ordinary rate. CABLE TRAFFIC. The number of cable messages, excluding Press, sent from New Zealand to international offices shows an increase of 5-02 per cent, on the number sent during 1927-28, and the number sent to Australian offices shows a decrease of 0-72 per cent. Messages received from international offices increased by 5-96 per cent., and messages from Australia decreased by 0-21 per cent. The proportion of cable messages sent " via Pacific " was greater than that sent by the same route during the previous year, the percentages being 66-5 and 66-07 respectively. The following table shows the total number of cable messages, excluding press, forwarded by each route during each of the past five years ; also the percentage of such traffic falling to each.

Press messages numbering 5,102 were sent via Pacific and 2,381 via Eastern, compared with 4,925 and 2,929 respectively during 1927-28. The number received via Pacific was 9,003 and via Eastern 3,708, compared with 7,731 and 3,266 respectively during the previous year. The following table shows the total number of each class of message, excluding press, dealt with during 1928-29, as compared with the number dealt with during 1927-28 :■ —

WIRELESS SERVICES. INTERNATIONAL RADIO-TELEGRAPH CONVENTION, 1927. An instrument of ratification of the International Radio-telegraph Convention held at Washington, U.S.A., in October, 1927, was signed by His Excellency the Governor-General 011 the 3rd September, 1928. The Convention came into operation on the Ist January, 1929, the necessary alterations in operating frequencies and procedure at the various radio-stations, both ashore and afloat, being effected without inconvenience. The New Zealand regulations for the different classes of radio services are at present under revision, in order to give full effect to the International Convention Regulations. In consequence of the requirements of the Convention in the matter of minimizing radio transmissions on the frequency of 500 kilocycles (600 metres), which is now reserved for calling and for distress and other urgent signals, the frequency of 375 kilocycles (800 metres) has been assigned to the general traffic service between ships and the coast stations of New Zealand. As an alternative wave, the frequency of 425 kilocycles (705 metres) also is permitted.

Pacific. Eastern. Y„, ' ij-r Ye., Messages. j *£»£> ' I 1924-25 185,680 65-3 1924-25 98,571 34-7 1925-26 204,586 65 1925-26 110,146 35 1926-27 204,051 64-29 1926-27 113,355 35-71 1927-28 210,662 66-07 1927-28 108,167 33-93 1928-29 217,033 66-5 1928-29 109,308 33-5

1928-29. 1927-28. Forwarded. Received. Forwarded. Received. Full-rate international cable messages .. .. 90,114 83,701 85,911 81,215 Deferred international cable messages .. .. 24,461 26,186 23,378 24,761 Daily letter-telegrams .. .. .. .. 35,215 27,353 33,921 24,622 Week-end telegrams .. .. .. .. 29,609 18,875 27,608 16,727 Australian cable messages .. .. .. 81,926 78,398 84,504 81,908 Australian night-letter telegrams .. .. 65,016 62,199 63,507 58,991 Totals .. .. .. .. 326,341 296,712 318,829 ; 288,224 (For further statement of cable business see page 44.)