NEW ZEALAND AND THE CABLE CONFERENCE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1340, 31 May 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND THE CABLE CONFERENCE.

The following is the letter embodying the views of the Now Zealand Government on the Cable question, which was laid before the late Conference in Melbourne : Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, May Ist, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that, owing to the near approach of the session of Parliament, and the consequent number of important matters occupying the attention of Ministers, this Government exceedingly regret being unable to send a representative to the Cable Conference ; and they accordingly desire to take this opportunity of placing before the other members of the Conference their views as to the proposed duplication. It appears to this Government that the question resolves itself into the three following heade : Firstly—As to the route the cable should follow. Secondly —As to the basis upon which the subsidy shall be distributed ; and Thirdly—As to what proportion of the subsidy the Imperial Government should be called upon to contribute. 2. As regards the route, we are of opinion that a survey of both routes, viz., that from Port Darwin to Singapore, touching at Banjoewangie, and that from North-west Cape to Singapore, also touching at Banjoewangie, should be made before the choice of either can be decided upon finally. The New Zealand Government will be willing to contribute their share towards such survey. 3. Thiß Government have gone carefully into the question of subsidy proposed by the Eastern Extension Company for the duplication of the cable by either of the above routes, as also the proposal as to the sinking fund, and beg to express their views as follows : The Government think that the payment of the subsidy by the several colonies should be assessed on the money value of the telegrams passing through the cable to and fro at Port Darwin, and not upon the basis of population. They also onsider that the sinking fund should be vested in the hands of trustees appointed by the several colonies, and that the expenses of the renewal or repair of the duplicate cable should be paid out of such fund, the balance at the end of the twenty-two years to be distributed amongst the several contributing Governments according to their proportion of contribution ; or it might, perhaps, be better to devote such balance towards forming the nucleus of a fund for procuring another cable. It also suggests itself to this Government that, in the event of the present cable being interrupted, either the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company should pay for the right of gending through the new cable, whilst the repairs were in progress, or that the subsidy on the duplicate cable should cease during such period of repairs. 4. This Government are of opinion, taking into consideration the importance that uninterrupted telegraphic communication must be to the mother country, that the Imperial authorities may be fairly asked to contribute a proportion of the subsidy and sinking fund. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,] G. S. Whitmoee. The chairman of the conference on duplication of eleotric cable, Melbourne.