CHEAP GABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2373, 14 December 1908, Page 5

CHEAP GABLES.

CABLE NEWS

INFLUENTIAL MEETING IN LONDON.

IMPRESSIVE ADDRESSES

United Press Association. Copyright (Received Dec. 13, 4.15 p.m.)

LONDON, Dee. 12

The Lord Mayor presided at an influential meeting, the speakers including the Duke of Argyll, Lord Milner, the Hon. R. Lemieux (Canada), Captain Collins (Victoria),. Lord Jersey and Sir A. Spicer. A low-priced, easy and uniform means of telegraphic connexion within the Empire was recommended, and the Government asked to convene a conference of the postal authorities of the States and dependencies of the Empire to promote wider recognition of the policy of State-owned and controlled cables. Sir Albert Sassoon said that Mr. Henniker Heaton’s scheme was the goal of the future, but at present only a pious aspiration. "Sir Albert Sassoon advocated State owned and controlled cables, beginning by linking up with the Pacific lino. Ho believed that a charge of eighteen pence a word was feasible, with a shilling for deferred cables.

Lord Curzon wrote that cheap cables would be an immense incentive to Imperial feeling, without which the Empire could not permanently exist. Cables ought to be administered in the interest of the entire community. Existing connexions and methods lie regarded as sure to become hopelessly obsolete before ,a quarter of a century had passed. The Hon. R. Lemieux advocated a State-owned Atlantic cable, as tho logical sequence of the Pacific cable. The result, lie said, would be an immediate reduction of rates between Canada and England of 50 per cent, and eventually a ten cent rate. It would also ensure reductions in the charges to Australia and New Zealand, besides being a harbinger of a pan-Britannic system. Captain Collins, representative of Australia, said that the Commonwealth favored cheapening wherever practicable on a commercial basis, and would co-operate in a State-owned Atlantic line, bringing the Canadian line under State control.

The Duke of Argyll advocated cheap cables after business hours. Lord Milner thought it was worth while for the State to lose some money in order to secure a substantial reduction.

Sir Albert Spicer,, representing the London Chamber of Commerce, recognised that existing private rights must not be disregarded. He thought, nevertheless, that, the time had arrived when the cables ought to be owned and controlled by the Governments and run in the best interests of all.

Lord Jersey emphasised the necessity of recognising what the cable companies had done for the Empire. The Hon. G. Neilson argued that it was unlikely that Governments could work cables more cheaply than private enterprise. It would be cheaper to increase old ago pensions to 7s 6d -a week than introduce penny telegrams for all distances. The Hon. W. S. Fielding, Canadian Treasurer, said that he would never advocate rash and reckless expenditure, but everyone desired better and cheaper communication.