CABLE BATES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 5

CABLE BATES.

UNKING UP THE EMPIRE,

ON FERENCE IN FAVOUR OF EARLI REDUCTIONS. IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS. By Teleci'aDb—Press Associatkin-OoDj'rißU' (lice. June 10, 10 p.m.) London, Juno 10. Tlio Imperial Conference continued it sittings yesterday, when New Zealand' motion in favour of reduced rates wa agreed to after an interesting debate Tlio proposal for the laying of a State owned Atlantic cable was also discussed The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, pre sided, and Sir. Herbert Samuel, the Bri tish Postmaster-General, was present. Sir Joseph Ward moved— "That in view of the social and commercial advantages which would result from increased facilities for intercommunication between her dependencies and Great Britain, it is desirable that all possible * means bo taken to secure a reduction iu cable rates throughout the Empire." Speaking in support of the motion, Sii Joseph Ward said much had been ac complished, but the cheapening had not gone far enough. Postal experience hac shown that a reduction iu charges t'o t point' which would secure the public i fieer use of the services produced a mor( profitable working. There was a fcelinf. in the overseas portions of the Empir< that the present rates were due to a rinf in tho cable world. He hoped the Con ference would effect an improvement ii the direction of a more general use ot the cables. British Proposals. Mr. Herbert Samuel, British Postmaster General, said he sympathised with and sup ported the resolution. Since tho last . Imperial Conferonoo tho press rates foi cablo messages had been reduced, but he agreed that the progress made was not adequate. Steps were being taken t< secure a cheapening in several .directions Firstly, he hoped for a fifty per cent reduction on deferred cables. Secondly, there should bo a further re duction in the press rates. Thirdly, the Government intended' tc insert a clauso in all new landing li censes issued to cable companies giviiif 'a control over the cable rates to the Government, while at the same time pro viding security to the companies against tho abuse of that power by an appeal t.i the Railway and Canal Commission Fourthly, the Government aimed at de veloping tho use of wireless telegraph} which would have some effect on ths cablo rates. Mr. Samuel, in concluding, assured tin Conference that tho passing of tho rcso lution would bo followed by effective achievement. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister ot Canada, declared that all tho trouble ex isting at present was due to tho Atlantic cable companies. There was an sion in Canada, almost amounting to o conviction, that a combine existed. Mr. Samuel's suggestion would deal with such a combination. Deferred Rates, Mr. Fisher, Prime. Minister of Australia, said that the increased facilities oi reduced rates appealed principally tc Australia and New Zealand, because they were dependent on cablo messages for their European and American information, lie asked whether it was feasible te grant a low rate over the Pacific cable for news cabled from Australia to Montreal, whence it could be posted to Great Britain. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, asked whether tho Postmaster-General had any information with regard to the refusal of the Treasury's sanction for the construction of a new cablo from New Zealand to Australia by the Pacific Cable Board, on the ground that it would interfere with the development of wireless telegraphy. Extra New Zealand Cable. Mr. Samuel agreed to inform the Exchequer of tho strong desire of Australia and New Zealand to have the Cable Board authorised, so far as Great Britain's consent was concerned, to lay the cable. Mr. Asquith also promised to givo his consideration to tho matter. Tho resolution was then adopted. "ALL-RED" CABLE ROUTE. STATE-OWNED ATLANTIC CABLE. BATES MUST BE REDUCED. The Conference next proceeded to tho consideration of tho two following motions, tho first from Australia, and the second from New Zealand— "That this Conference strongly recommends tho nationalisation of tho Atlantic cable, in order to cheapen and render more effectivo telegraphic communication between Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, by thus acquiring complete control of all the telsgraphie and cablo lines along tho 'All-Red Route'." "That in order to secure a measure of unity of the cablo and telegraph lines within tho Empire, tho scheme of telegraph cables bo extended by tho laying of a State-owned cable between England and Canada, and that the powers of tho Pacific Cablo Board bo extended to enable the board to lay and control such cablo." The Project Feasible. Senator Pearce, Commonwealth Minister for Defence, believed this motion offered the only way to get a beneficial result. He outlined the "All-Red" cablo project, including tho laying of an Atlantic cablo and tho purchase of a Canadian land line. A now Atlantic cable would cost .£IBO,OOO, and the land lines £120,000. Tho estimated cost of working and maintenance for tho cablo was .021,500, and of the land lino .£32,000. With a sct-olf of cerlnin existing expenses amounting to J222.000. it was estimated that the board would have an immediate revenue of .Clfi.ooo, in addition to new business. Tho "All-Red" line was feasible, and was unlikely to require special financial assistance from tho Government. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said (hat, after Mr. Samuel's statement in connection with tho previous resolution, ho preferred to reserve his judgment on tho present proposal. ' ' Nationalisation Urged. Sir Joseph Ward was strongly of opinion that nationalisation was the right course. Mr. Samuel's proposals were important, but the rates could only be placed on a satisfactory basis through Government;ownership. Tho nationalising of the cables was of greater importance from an Imperial viewpoint (linn n concession in rales. If they could arrange for tlio taking over of private cables on reasonable terms it would be the finest thing ever done for tho Empire, and equally good for commercial transactions. If tho companies were unwilling to sell at market value to the