THE POSTAL CONFERENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1750, 26 January 1888, Page 3

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE

(ttEB P&E3B ASSOCIATION.)

Sydnbv, January 25. At the Postal Conference to-day Sir William Fitzherbert, on behalf of the Near Zealand Government, made a statement expressing the views of his Government on the cable question. Sir William mentioned that under the old rates the Eastern Extension Cable Company had made a net profit of per annum, and under those circumstances the New Zealand Government declined to swell the profits of the Company by agreeing to a renewal of the subsidy previously paid; New Zealand^ he stated, favored the prosecution of the survey of the Pacific route, and also urged that the offer made by the Canadian Government to provide a survey vessel, if the colonies interested shared the other expenses, should be accepted. He suggested the advisability of the colonies considering the propriety of puchasing all existing cables, and that it would be wise to stipulate m any agreement with the Pacific Cable Company for the right of the colonies to acquire the cable at a stipulated price. He directed the attention at the Conference to the commercial benefits which would accrue to the Australian colonies from their connection by cable with America and the Pacific Islands. Sir William spoke well, and his speech made an evident impression, and it was considered that he put New Zealand's case m an exceptionally favorable light. During the discussion which followed, Mr Johnston, on behalf of South Australia, stated that that colony would Dot pledge itself to the slightest expenditure for the Pacific route. The Conference is still sitting. (Retired January 26, 1 45 p m.) Sydney, January 26 In his speech at the Postal Conference last night, Sir W.i Fitzherbert stated that he found when passing through Canada recently that the deepest interest was taken there m the proposed Pacific cable and the Canadian Government were most anxious to co-operate wfth the Australian colonies m the matter. He was authorised to state also that New Zealand was reaJy to co-operate with Australia m all national matters. The Hon F. D. Derharp, Postmaster General of Victoria, proposed three resolutions which were carried after a long discussion which lasted until past midnight. These were :— (1) "That the several colonies should contribute m proportion to their population to the whole subsidies now paid to the Cable Companies, including the New Zealand and Tasmanian lines, and that great Britain should also be asked to contrirute. (2) that it is desirable that the proposed route of the Pacific cable, via Vancouver he surveyed (3) that the reduction of rates be considered" The representative of Queensland dissented from the first resolution. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert on behalf of New Zealand said he could not pledge the Government to it but he would urge upon them the necessity of giving their concurrence. The New Scuth Wales and South Anstralian representatives. dissented from the first resolution on the ground that present communication was sufficient. The Conference has decided to levy contributions to the ocean mail subsidy on those colonies not m the new contract on the basis of population. The Queensland delegate strongly protested against such a course being adopted as it would be unfair to Queensland which has to keep up the Torres Strait service. It was decided to ask Great Britain to rigree to the exchange of a two penny postal card.