AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8115, 9 April 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

EASTERN EXTENSION CABLE COMPANY. MELBOURNE, April 7. The office of the Eastern Ex ten 9ion Company remains open, despite the authorities' order to close it. The matter will be one for legal determination. The Seoretary of the Postal De partmenl traverses the company's contention that the rublio will suffer by the closing of this office. He affirms that the company proposed a pooling arrangement with the Pacific Cable Company, in order that it might close the Melbourne and Sydney offices, and give up the special land lines, and thus save £BO,OOO yearly. The Manager of the Eastern Intension Company replied that it was the Pacific line whiuh first suggested pooling.' EFFECT OP THE ALTERATIONS. MELBOURNE, April 7. The Seoretary of the Postal Department points out that as the Eastern Extension Company has now no special concessions, there oan be no need to provide facilities which the Pacific line formerly demanded in order that the two might be on a level footing. This means that a large sum will not be expended on a special wire to connect Brisbane and the opening of separate offices. Figures have been compiled by the Postal Department showing that the subsidies and guarantees paid to the Eastern Extension Company since its Inception total £BBB,OOO, including the New Zealand guarantee of £20,000. SYDNEY, April 7. Mr Deakin, Federal Premier, states that the representations made by the Pacific Cable Board can only mean that it desires to be placed on an equal footing with the Eastern Extension Company. MELBOURNE OFFICE TO BE j CLOSED. Received April 9, 1.9 a.m. MELBOURNE, April 8. The Eastern Extension Company intends to test the legality of the Government's action. Meanwhile the company will olose the Melbourne office. THE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE. SYDNEY. April 7. At the Premiers' Conference it has been deoided that the CommoLwealth and States should have the use of eaoh other's officers to avoid the duplication of services, and that the Commonwealth should agree to the taxation of the salaries of Commonwealth servants by the State*-. The South An&tralian Premier, Hon. T. Price, submitted a scheme to deal with the Murray waters at a oost of £3,498,000. The scheme provides for placing looks on the Murray, Murrumbidgee, and Darling Rivers, and that no works for taking waters from the Murray be commenced until the scheme has been started.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,