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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 4

TnE suggestion of the Duncdin Chamber of Commerce that the .second cable of the Pacific Cable Company between New Zealand and Australia should be worked from the South Island is not likely to > find much favour with anyone outside of Duncdin and the Bluff. The idea tliat the South Island might some day be isolated unless a direct cable rnAnoohinn wit.b Ai.cH.olio ; n .

a flight of fancy that docs credit to the imagination of the Chamber but is very weak as an argument. The Chamber knows that the South Island at the present time possesses direct cable communication—a double cable in fact—from Wakapuaka, near Nelto La Pcrouse, a few miles out of Sydney. These are the Eastern Extension Company's lines and they provide what is practically a tenminute service to Australia. It is regrettable to notice the ignorance displayed, not only by the bulk of the public, but by Parliament itself in connection with our cable services. The other night, for instance, the Prime Minister, in discussing the question jof (he construction of a second cable from New Zealand to Australia by the Pacific Cable Board, remarked 011 the fact that the Eastern Extension Cable Company had shown a slight increase in its New Zealand business during the past year. The actual business done by the Eastern Extension Company with its two cables was 28 per cent of the total business of the Dominion; the Pacific Cable Board monopolising the remaining 72 per cent for its one cablc. Yet the suggestion was made that the Government should endeavour to grasp still more of the cable business, presumably with the idea of squeezing out the private organisation altogether. Why should New Zealand wish to injure this Cable Company? What would the people of New Zealand have done but for its enterpriseyears ago when it was welcomed with open arms as a public, benefactor ? But apart from this claim arising out of its past services, what foolishness it is to attempt to kill or even to seriously injure a company which makes available this additional means of communication with the outside world. Ever since the establishment of the Pacific cablc the Eastern Extension Company's lines have,- pwing to breakdowns in the single line of the Pacific Cablc Board, been at times the only possible means of getting cable messages to and from places beyond our own shores. _ It is an All British line, more so indeed than the Pacific cable; it has a hard struggle to make its Now Zealand business self-supporting; it provides a great public utility, and bccausc it manages to secure 28 per cent of the Dominion's business as compared with 72 per cent obtained by the Government, unthinking people urge that the Government should compete with it still more strenuously. How very foolish this is. We wonder whether the public know that every unrouted cable message handed in at a telegraph office is already grabbed by the Government for the Pacific cable lino 1 That is to say, that every cablc message that is not specially marked "via Eastern" is sent "via Pacific." This is the way the Government secures 72 per cent of the business for its own cablc service. And there are people who want it to go still further ! It is a pity they do not appreciate more clearly what it means.

Tiie public will no doubt derive some amusement from the frantic endeavours which are being made by the Government to pacify the railway etnploj'ees on the eve of the elections. But there is a serious side to the matter. Either the employees have been done serious injustice in having their claims repeatedly passed over or they arc now receiving something which they are not entitled to. Could any stronger proof be afforded of the unsatisfactory nature of the present railways administration ? A short time ago the Minister announced that some £50,000 would be provided in the way of increased salaries and wages for railway servants during the current year. The announcement was received contemptuously, it being pointed out that the greater part of this amount was represented by routine increases. Then there were further increases announced. But the railway employees were still unsatisfied with the proposals. Now still further increases are brought forward. Whether thesc will give satisfaction or not remains to be seen. But is it not degrading? The Government want to "square" the railway servants' vote at the coming ejection and their bids for support rise higher and higher. Can the public trust such men to manage their affairs? Can the railway servants place any rcliancc on Ministers who will only do them justice out of fear of the elections, anci who, when the elections arc over, will be once more in a position to ignore their appeals for just consideration?