CHEAP CABLEGRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 7

CHEAP CABLEGRAMS.

FOR PRESS AND PEOPLE. BUY THE CABLES AND MARCONI. • MRi HEATON'S WAY. (By Telegraph,T-Press ABsoclation.-Oopyrfeht.) (Roc. June 29/ 10 p.m.) . i London, Juno 29. . Tho newspapers publish a Jotter reforring to cubic matters, sent to Mr. Henniker Heaton (the apostle of penny postago and penny-a-wor<l cablegrams) by te.f Josinh ] Thomas, rfho was' Postmaster-General in the recentlydefeated Commonwealth Ministry... . rit was-cabled Jrom'Melbourno last Janaary' that, the Federal Postmaster-General, Mr. ; ThomaS, ''approves the cheapening of cable-' grams. He says that if the Atlantic rates can bo reduced to twopence a word, tho rates to Australia can bo reduced to fivepenCß a word."] ■ Mr. Henniker Hoaton, in a letter to "Tho Times," declares that even a reduction of CO per cent, in the existing'cable rates to Australia for the press and the peoplo would be no use, - v.. ■. He reverts to his original proposals for the purchaso •of existing; cables, for the laying of State-owned cables, and for tho .purchase of" Marconi's inventions, and tho securing of Marconi's personal services for the remainder of his life. • t ~' " [Mr. 'Henniker Hoaton thus'summarises his modus operandi;—"Tho first step is to call a conference for - the establishment of, Id. per Word 'throughout Europe. : .'Next, to connect with our ••..Indian,v Malayan, and. Chinese 1 systems. Thirdly, t to construct'the land' line down tho Malay Peninsula. to Singapore 'to connect Singapore witli' tho/ Sumatron ' and Javan. systems •hp a few miles, of, cables; and thon to lay a caole from Java to Port.Darwin 1 in Australia, .'i Utilising the land lines -which 1 stretchy to_ Australia 'with ;;a; "few short gaps, and bridging those gaps with new -cables, Wo. 1 might, at once , dispenss, "with existing cables.' Lastly; it'-,would' bo necessary ifor his Majesty's .Government, to purchaso One .or' moro of. the cables stretching between .the United Kingdom and Canada,"]-. ■, REDUCTIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYER 6, ' SOME CANADIAN. COMMENTS. - Montreal, June 28. . , The Montroal. ''Gazette'' considers tbat a. State-owned Atlantic eablo would bo almost as" big a failure as tho Pacific State-owned cable, and/ that there w nothing to warrant State assuming.part of tho financial bur-; dnns of tho press. v -i '' i' ; .-'. Tho Kingston ."Standard" says' the .reduction of rates on,the Pacific cable lino' imposes another burden on. the general taxpayers. ' gist of ' all '.previous', advice?'. lias:' beeh that the great bulk of Canadian opinion is in favour of f» State-owned Atlantic cable. Canada is a partner .in the Pacific oablo to tho eamo oxtent as Great Britain, vi2.i fiVMightcenths.' ■ According ■ to. ■; a ... correspondent ; ; of-if ''The Times,. "Canada .became' a • partner in,;-' the ', Pacifio ' cable I .;;project lirincipally , upon Imperial 'grounds,! fund has paid her annual; contribution ! without*'miir-' •mnr.v; There i has been; keen / disappointment, however, in this. Country, at' the' apparent Iwi of, enterprise of the Pacifio Cable Board ih .London; Canadians, are.' now hoping for more ■ aggressivefaction, ;.Tho: construction ;. of v. af State-owned Atlantic cable would immcdialelv cut rates between Great .Britain and Australia, to one-half and: eventually .much, lower.;.\ v .1 hat tho sister colonics in the Antipodes r are 'vitally interested ,in the construction, .of., the Atlantic cable ie' obvious,' ns it; would 1 furnish an essential link, for All-Red telegraphic communication between : Great, Britain 'and .'.Australia. J " : " :•;•■-■.i.-.--