THE CABLE CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5360, 1 June 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CABLE CONFERENCE.

(From the Ary us. May 20. The following is the report of the Cable Conference - . The conference assembled in Melbourne, and held their first meeting on the 9th day of May, 1878. The colonics of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria were represented, as follows, viz.:— New South Wales.—The Hon. J. F, Burns, Postmaster-General. • Queensland.-— The Hon. Charles Stuart Mein* Postmaster-General.

South Australia. —The Hon. James P. Boucaut, Prime Minister and Treasurer ; Mr. Charles Todd, C.M.G., Postmaster-General.

Tasmania.— The Hon. Sir James Milne Wilson, President of the Legislative Council, and member of the Executive Council. ,

'Victoria.— I The Hon. Graham Perry, Prime Minister, and Chief Secretary and Treasurer ; the Hon. Henry Cuthbert, Postmaster-General. The colony of New Zealand was nob represented at the conference ; but a letter was received from-the Colonial Secretary, which contained the views of the Government of that colony as to the duplication of the cable between Australia and Singapore. The colony of Western Australia was also not represented. :

At the first meeting of the conference the Hon. Graham Berry was unanimously elected president, and Mr. Webb Ware was appointed secretary. The conference unanimously agreed to the following resolution That in the opinion l of this conference provision should be made as early as practicable for ensuring greater certainty of telegraphic communication between Great Britain and the Australian colonies and New Zealand.”

The conference then proceeded to discuss the whole question of the duplication of the telegraph lines between Australasia and Europe and the different routes proposed ; and after mature deliberation the following resolutions were agreed to : .

’ “That the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria be empowered to enter into on agreement and contract with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for asecond cable from Singapore direct to Banjoewangie, avoiding the Java land lines, and thence direct to Port Darwin, for aii annual subsidy of not exceedingb£32,loo.” L (Note. —Queensland refrained from voting oh this resolution.) - j “Thatisuoh -subsidy shall be payable for a period of not more than 20 years, and that in consideration thereof the said company—l. Shall, throughout the . whole of the period during whioh such subsidy shall be payable, maintain in full working order such second cable, and also its -present; lines l of cable between- Singapore and' Batavia, and Banjoewangio and Port Darwin. 2: Shall,; before such subsidy shall become payable, lay a second cable between Singapore and Penang, and thereafter shall maintain the same, and its present lines of cable between Singapore and Penang, Penang and Madras, Madras and Rangoon, in full working order.” . • “ That , the Eastern . Extension Company should, without any additional subsidy, other than already agreed .to for the duplication of the lino from'Siugapore to Port Darwin, reduce their charge for Governmental messages between England and Port Darwin to the extent of 50 per cent., and their charges, for Press messages to the extent of 75 per. cent, on the present rates.” . • “That provision be made in the contract with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for the purchase, , by the combined rof the duplicate cable, on equitable terms, at any time during the currency of the subsidy.” . “ That in calculating the amount of subsidy to be paid to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, the actual ‘ cost of the duplicate cable shall he the basis.”:

“That the cost of the subsidy ha paid by the different Australasian colonies rateably in proportion to their respective populations.”. “ That, in the first instance, the populations of the several colonies as officially estimated on December 31, 1876, shall be. .the basis of the proportionate allotment of the cost of each.” “ That such contributiona.shall.bereadjusted on-the basis of the populations of.the several: colonies as shown by the next general census, and thereafter once ;every five years.”: , . , (Note. —Queensland refrained from . voting oh the last three,resolutions.) , ~ : , ; The following motions, proposed by the representative of Queensland were negatived, ; all the colonies represented, excepting Queensland, voting against the motions, viz : 1 , : ; “1. That, in the interest of *ll the Australasian colonies it is essential that there should' be a complete system of telegraphic communication between British India and the continent of Australia, unconnected with, the existing, lines of the Eastern Extension Company, and under the control of an independent company or proprietary. . 2;-That the second system ofcommunication should be connected with the capitals of the aeveral'Anatraliau colonies by means of land lines entirely independent of the lines connecting Port Darwin:with -Adelaide. 3. That on the completion of the second system of telegraphic communication with British India there should be paid to the Eastern Extension Company, throughout the period during which a subsidy shall be paid to the proprietors of such second system; a subsidy equal to per centum, of the original capital coat of the construction of such company’s present lines of cable :between Singapore and Batavia, and Banjoewangie and Port Darwin, if they shall throughout such period maintain, in effective working order a separato line of ..telegraphic , communication between Port Darwin and British -India. 1 4. That all subsidies which may be required for the construction or maintenance, of ocean cables between British'-India and Australia should be paid-and borne by the several Australian coldnies ia such proportions. as may be mutually determined.” ■

The following resolution was carried, South Australia refraining from voting thereon, viz. : ! j- ! . ■■■';; -;; ■■ “ That whilst the conference has not made any provision for the duplication, at the present time, of <tho continental line of telegraph from Port Darwin, the representatives-of the different colonies expressly, reserve for confederate action a future decision 'on' this important point, and empower the Governments of New South Wales and -Victoria, before entering into and making any contract with the Eastern, Extension Telegraph Company for the construction of the second, cable between Port Darwin and Singapore, 1 ' to receive an engagement from South Australia to co,operate with the' other Australian icolonies in constructing and maintaining a newline of,telegraph from Pori; Darwin,; to be connected with the telegraphic .: system of:. Queensland. * Provided that, in the event of such line being decided tipon, South Australia shall not be called upon to contribute thereto.”

The. conference i having decided to discussany question of intercolonial interest 1 other than that, of telegraphic communication with Europe, the following resolutions were, after mature deliberation, unanimously agreed to, viz.

“That the adoption of the amended treaty agreed to by the Berne - Postal Convention bo recommended for the favorable consideration of the Governments: of Australia and Now Zealand.”..

. “That it is desirable to make provision by legislation that probate of ; wills taken out in ono colony may be registered in the Registry of Wills office in any other < colony, in cases of testators dying in one colony leaving personal property in other colonies.” ; “ That the;; Government of Tasmania be requested to prepare a Bill dealing with the question raised by the foregoing resolution, and 1 submit the same for the approval of the Governments of the several Australasian colonies with a view to united legislation • on-the subject.’.' “That additional facilities should bo afforded to suitors for enforcing' jundgraents recovered in the Buproiuo Coart! of ono colony against the property of- judgment l in other colonies,” - ;

“That the representatives of the different colonies undertake, in the event of-the law advisers of their Governments approving of the same, to endeavor to’ procure the passing in their’ respective Legislatures of a Bill dealing with the question raised by the foregoing reso-

lution similar to that submitted by Tasmania, and appended to the proceedings of the conference.” . .

>:■. ’“.Thafc.it is desirable that. the Governments of the continental colonies should, at as early a period as possible, interchange views as to ■ the intended routes of their principal railway ■ lines, so as to enable junctions of the various systems to be arranged for at the most suitable points.” ; i /. f* That,- in the opinion of tins conference, the necessity of- 1 the: joint defence of the ■ Australian colonics should be recognised,: and acted upon promptly by their respective Governments and Legislatures. in view of the present unsettled state of Europe, and having regard to future contingencies.” “That the Agents-General.be requested, in view of; the early termination of the Postal Treaty of 1873 between the Imperial Government and the colonies, to elicit from the Secretary of State for the 'Colonies the. intentions of the Imperial : Government in reference to the Suez, Pacific, and Torres Straits mail services.” The conference also discussed other questions, on which no definite action was taken. . Attention is directed to the appendix of minutes of proceedings, report of evidence taken, and tlocuments laid before the conference. : . J. F. Burns, New South Wales. Charles Stuart Mein, Queensland. J. P. Boucaut i g Auitralia , Charles Todd ) J. M. Wilson, Tasmania. GkaH am BekrY ) Vieteriu , H. CuTUßEivr y T. Webb Wake, Secretary. Melbourne, 18tb May, 1878. THE NEW ZEALAND STATEMENT, .■> Colonial Secretary’s Office, . Wellington, May 1, 1878. - Sir,—l 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 taka this opportunity of placing before the other members of the conference their views as to the proposed duplication. It appears to I this Government that the question resolves itself into the three following heads:— ‘ 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 that 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 i 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. This Government: have gone carefully into the question of subsidy proposed by the Eastern Extension Company for the duplica-• tion 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 1 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. Theyalsd consider that the sinking found 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 22 years to be distributed amongst the several contributing Governments according to their proportion Of 1 contribution; or it might, perhaps, be better to devote such ba'ance 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 1 Australasia and China Telegraph Company should pay for the right of sending through the hew cable, whilst the fepaira were in progress, or that the Subsidy on the duplicate cable should cease during such period of repairs. ■ i. This Government are of opinion, taking into consideration the importance that uninterrupted telegraphic communication must bo to the mother country,'that the Imperial authorities maybe fairly asked to contribute a pro. portion of the subsidy and sinking fund. . I ’ have the honor to I be, sir, your most obedient servant, 1 .

G, S. WHmroKE. The chairman of the conference on duplication of electric cable, Melbourne. 1