TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE.

Evening Star, Issue 3193, 15 May 1873, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE.

A committee on telegraphic communication with places beyond Australia have reported to the New South Wales Parliament, rccon in- nding the construction of* a second cable from Normanton in Queensland to Singapore, to be there connect'd with the messages from Port Darwn Pass, at a coal of LBOO,OOO. The committee think that the net cost of the second cable, and the reduction of tho coat of telegraphic messages to ami from the rest of the world, and the cost of free public telegrams as hereinafter re commended, would not, if carefully negotiated, in Java, India, and Europe, by a thoroughly competent and well-selectc officer, exceed an annual expenditure th.r could bo borne with ease, and would be borne (considering the advantages to be gained) with satisfaction by the people of Australia The repoit then proceeded to state : • “It will be found on examination of tin evidence taken by your committee on tin subject of the desirability or otherwise ol emleavo;ing to obtain the concurrence of tin other Australian Colonies in having trans mitted public telegrams from I urope periodically, exhibiting the prees current of lead ing Australian productions, and other info) mation of interest and value to colonist; ■enerally, to be posted without charge a every telegraph office throughout Australia,

that much difference ef opinion was elicited. The greater weight of testimony was, however, given in favor of such telegrams.. From the evidence of Mr James and Mr Cracknel! it appeal el that messages of 100 words each could be transmitted from England three Mines a week, and posted at every telegraph station in Australia, at a net cost of IJIO,COO '-year, that sum covering all charges, includmg ncc'ssary agencies. Should the whole f~the Australian Colonies co-oprrate in the undertaking, and contribute ratoably according to their”population, the share to be pud by New South W ales would be but L 3,000 a year, an insignificant expenditure, having regard to the great benefit secured. Even under present circumstances, it appears to your committee that the great mass of the taxpayers of the Colonies can never receive back by direct use of the Hues their fair proportion of the coat to the public that telegraphy has occasioned. Such direct advantage can only, as a rule, he received by the classes that arc in a position to pay for sending telegrams ; and if the recommendations of ’your committee involving still larger expenditure are carried out, without some provission for free telegrams of the kind indicated, the disadvantage under which the non-telegraphing portions of the community arc placed will be increased. Influenced by these and other reasons your committee recommend for favorable consideration that a system providing free public telegrams-from Europe to Australia be established.”