CHEAP CABLES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 274, 12 November 1908, Page 2

CHEAP CABLES

A CANADIAN SCHEME. London, November 10. The Hon. E. Leuijeux, the Canadian Postmaster, is to discuss with tire Imperial Government a suggestion t'or tile construction of an Atlantic cable at Britain's and Canada's expense. the suggested rate is live cents per w>rd for ordinary cables and a penny a word for press messages.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON'S SCHEME. CHEAP CABLES ONE OF HUMANITY'S NEEDS. i FORCING THE HANDS OF THE COMPANIES.

Received 11, 11.35 p.m. London, November 11. | Mr. Hennikcr Heaton. speaking at tiie Colonial Institute, advocated universal ;]ienny-a-word cables. He believed the collapse, of the rclemless opposition to the Imperial penny postage scheme was jiistilied. He believed that

the .penny-a-word cable scheme would be succes»ul in the nearest future. If political frontiers were abolished or ignored by the arrangement uf foreign Uovenimcnts the chief obstacle would be removed. If that were not possible he relied upon Marconi. The PostmastersGeneral of the. Empire ought to meet in London and the Home and colonial I Governments should oiler to construct land lines to portions of the Empire along the route to the British |ovor-

sea possessions. The money the Governments expended in cables would prove more than sufficient to 'pay interest on All the cables and land lines necessary to acquire. While thinking the cabte companies ungenerous and unwise, he still i was unwilling to deprive them of a farthing of their just reward. "English merchants," he said, "pay live millions a year in cabling, though only three millions are spent on inland ines-

sages by the whole United Kingdom. Owing to tlie enormous cost few messages of social kinds are despatched." Anglo-Saxondom longed more for intimate communication. Jn Govcrnmeit hands ciihlcs would cost only a million a year instead of four. He blamed the Imperial I'ost llllice for not advocating the lowering of Hie cost of cabling. The marvellous I'ollak-Virag system would enable the cables to cope with a rush of •messages ill popular rates. A concession in rates must increase the cohesion of the Umpire. IV.iny-a-woi\l cables were

not a luxury but one of humanity's! needs. Jf the cable monopolies would not move reformers were independent

of them. If a cable to Canada were Constructed land lines would do the rest. The natural trade route to Australasia was via India and China. The British and colonial Governments could cither buy out the cable companies at their market price or act as indicated. The first step was to call an Imperial conference, and then to hold a conference with the American postal authorities,, and also to link up the linjet in Europe with India, China and Australia.