CHEAP CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 299, 14 December 1908, Page 2

CHEAP CABLES.

DISCUSSED HV AX LNIXUmiAL JIfcETING. STATE-OWXED LLNES ADVOCATED. BUITISII (JON KIiXUEXT ASKED TO CCOiTEXE A COXFEKEXCE. Received 13, 4.15 p.m. Loudon, December 12. the Lord -Mayor presided at an iullueiuial meeting m connection with tho cheap cable niovenieiit. The shakers included the Duke of Argyll, Lord Alilner, Hon. 1!. Lemioux (Canadian Postmaster-General), Captain K. Collins (Commonwealth representative m London), Karl Jersey and SiAlbert Spicer. As a result of the proceedings, u) motion was carried recommending lowpriced, easy and uniform means of telegraphic connection within the Empire and asking the British Government to convene a conference of postal authorities of the .States and dependencies of the Empire to promote a wider recognition of the policy of State-owned anl State-controlled cables.

Sir Edward Sasaoou said that Mr. Hennikcr-Hea ton's scheme was a goal !<>v the future. At present it was only u pious aspiration. The speaker advocated .State-owned and State-controlled cables, beginning by linking up the Pacific. He believed eighteen pence a word was a feasible rate, with a shilling ft word rate for deferred cables..

Lord Curzon wrote to the effect that cheap cables would prove an immense incentive to Imperial feeling, without which the Empire could not permanently exist. The cables ought to he administered in the interest of the entire community. The existing connections and methods would be regarded as hopelesaly obsolete before a quarter of a century had elapsed. Hon Lemicux advocnted a State-own-ed Alla7itic cable as a logical sequence to the State-owned I'acille cable. Tin result would be the immediate roductio"! in rates from Canada to England and vice versa of 50 per cent. Eventually the rates would be reduced to ton cent's (fivepenee). Such a cable service would also ensure reductions in the case of Australia and New Zealand, besides lieing a harbinger of the system.

C'apt. Collins said the Commonwealth I favored the cheapening of the cable rate | wherever practicable on a commercial I basis, mid would co-operate in a State- | owned Atlantic line and bringing the Canadian-.land lines under State control. " '

The Duke of Argyll advocated cheap, cables after business hours.

Lord Milner said it was worth while for lllc Stme to lose some moncv in order to secure a substantial reduction in the rates.

Sir Albert. Spieer. representing the London Chamber of Commerce, recognised Hhat the existing private rights ,iuust not be disregarded. Nevertheless, the lime hud arrived when cables ought to be owned and controlled by the tio- ■ vcrnincnts and run in the best interests of all.

Darl Jersey emphasised the necessity ■it recognising what cable companies lia-J done for the Empire. Mr. Xeilson argued it was unlikely Hint Governments could work the cables more cheaply thnn private enterpris - It would, he thought, be cheaper to increase old age pensions to "a (id a week than to introduce penny-a-word telegrams for all distances.

The lion. W. S. Welding, Canadian Treasurer, said he would never advocate rash and reckless expenditure, but everyone desired better and cheaper communication,