Pacific Mail and Cable Matters.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 737, 11 May 1894, Page 6

Pacific Mail and Cable Matters.

LONDON, May 9 Sir C. Tupper read paper before the Colonial Institute, in which he strongly advocated colonial view of questions to be submitted to Tariff Conference at Ottawa. He said if Australian colonies gave subsidy of £50,000, and Great Britain subsidy of £75,000, fornightiy mail service to Australia vifi, Canada would be available in 1896. Naval strength provided by vast steamers on Pacific and Atlantic, together with Pacific cable, formed strongest claims for Imperial support towards such mail service. Sir Charles contended that protests of existing companies against proposed Pacific cable were to large extent fallacious.

Gillies, Agent General for Victoria, expressed regret that Admiralty had not made exhaustive survey of Pacific. He contended that until this was done it was impossible to accurately estimate or apportion cost of proposed cable. Dobson, of Tasmania, said representative of Imperial Govt at Canadian Conference ought to candidly declare whether Great Britain would join in subsidising proposed Pacific cable. If Great Britain decided to stand aloof, then Australia and Canada would act together in matter.

O’Connor, of N. S. Wales, emphasised strategic advantages of cable across Pacific.