LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 993, 7 December 1910, Page 5

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

COMMONWEALTH SUPPORT. THE CHEAPER CABLES SCHEME. By Toleerapb—Press Association—CorrrißUt. Sydney, December 6. Speaking at tho Chamber of Manufacturers' dinner,. tho I'ostmaster-Gcncrnl (Hon. J. Thomas) declared that it was tho earnest and sincere desire of tho Federal Government to give every possible 'help towards fostering the development of local industry. Australian tenders in his own Department would be given tho fullest consideration, oven if tho prices were beyond thoso of outsiders. linptfial penny postage, added the Minister, would bo in operation not later than May 1. He hoped the day of cheaper cables was not far distant. Tho Government' would do nil they could. They wanted to nationalise tho Atlantic cable, but there was a lot of opposition to the proposal. Ho would 6upport for "all he knew" sixpenny cables between England and Australia. Mr. Cook, Leader of the Federal Opposition, said ho hoped that the day would come when they would have a right-of-way by, cable through tho heart of tho Empire, and when such cables would bo used to advantago in respect to defence. The Government might rely upon tho support of the Opposition in any steps taken towards welding the Empire together, . ■ I.

NEW ERA COMING. DEFERRED RATES FROM NEW TEAR, Brl'cleErapn—Press Association—Oopyrieht. I London, December 5. All the cable and telegraph companies concerned have consented to the Pacific Cable Board's proposal for deferred rates, and now only adhesion of one or two European countries is necessary. Tho hoped-for. reduction will commence on January!. '