COST OP CABLES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 4

COST OP CABLES.

NATIONALISATION SCHEME. The cost 1 of cable communication between tho Dominion and tlio Old Country was mentioned in tho Houso of Representatives yesterday by Sir. H. J. H. Okcy,' M.P., who asked the Post-master-General 'whether, in order to bring these charges within reasonable limits" he would consider tho advisability of co-operating with Australia in tho direction of breaking down tho vested interests that exist at present, oven if it necessitated the nationalising of tho cablo business, giving tlio companies a fair prico for their interests. Tho Hon. I). 11. Rhodes replied: Tlio Government is fully impressed of tho desirability of cheapening tho cost of cable communication between tho Dominion and other parts of tho world, and with this object in view lias boon and is still in communication with tlio Commonwealth authorities on tho subject or a reduction of rates. The nationalisation of the cablo business is a proposition of such complexity and magnitude that it wnuld constitute n fit subject for an international conference, but is Bcarely one in connection with which this Dominion should tako the initiative. Sir. Ell askod tho Postmaster-Gene-ral whether he had communicated with tho Postmasters-General of Canada and Australia with respect to Canada, Australia, and Now Zealand co-operating in tlio laying of a State-owned cablo linking up the United Kingdom with the oversea dominions P ' Mr. Rhodes said that several communications had passed between tho Government- and tho other Governments -partner-owners in the Pacific cableregarding the laying of a State-owned cable across tho Atlantic. This Dominion had at various times strongly advocated tho laying of a. State-owned oablo acroas tho Atlantic.