NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8437, 8 May 1907, Page 5

NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

DELEGATES ENTERTAINED.

CHEAPER CABLEGRAMS.

Received May 7, 7.34 a.m. May 6,

Mr Lloyd-George, President of the Board of Trade, entertained the delegates to the Navigation Conference at a banquet at the Savoy Hotel! Sir Joseph Ward, in proposing Mr Lloyd-George's health, paid a high tribute to his presidency of the Navigation Conference. Sir Joseph expressed the firm belief that, as an outcome of the conference, thejvarious Governments would find a basis on which all could work. He emphasised the importance of lowering -the Suez Canal rates for vessels carrying perishable produce, and of cheapening the cable rates to Australia and New, Zealand to sixpence, or at least one shilling, per word. Sir Joseph' argued that there were immense possibilities of increasing trade if there was more rapid communication between the 1 Motherland, Australia and Canada. If the prohibitive tolls at *he Suez Canal were removed, tramp steamers would carry back from the coloniesjperishable and frozen produce. While not desiring to reduce the cable companies' dividends, he thought it was possible to greatly reduce the rates to the advantage of the business as well as the social and domestic ties of the Empire. Mr Lloyd-George, replying,[|thought that the results of the conference were admirable. Sir Joseph Ward's suggestions had greatly impressed the Government, which was givng them the deepest consideration. He hoped to be able to give a satisfactory answer before the Premiers left, ! as the suggestions could be carried out quite consistently with the Government's pledges of policy. He failed to see why the Imperial Government could not join the colonies in lessening the burden on British ships traversing the canal. . He would be surprised if something could not be done to get Sir Joseph Ward's proposal carried into effect. Mr Lloyd-George referred to Sir : Joseph Ward's speech as being an ' extraordinarily able one, full of businesslike and practical suggestions. Although political exigencies prevented the acceptance of preference, other ways remained of assisting to bring the colonies closer to England. Sir Joseph Ward'y suggestions to shorten and improve the Appian ways of the Empire were a matter of the greatest importance. He concurred with Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Wilfrid Laurier that it was possible to bring New Zealand within twentyone, days from London.

HOW TO REDUCE THE CABLE RATES. MR CHAPMAN'S VIEWS. Received May 7, 10.2§ a.m. . MELBOURNE, May 7. The Postmaster-General (Mr' A. Chapman) is now making an investigation into cable rates with a view to* ascertaining the, possible effect of a reduction. He personally likes Sir Joseph Ward's suggestion .to come down to one shilling per word. • Enquiries, however, convince him that so heavy a decrease is impracticable. He sees no reason why a reduction should not be made to 2s or 2s 6d, if the other partners in the Pacific cable and owners of the Canadian land line, and private lines will agree. The Postmaster-General adds that he has lately been considering a proposal for transmitting free , press cable news. The idea strikes him as commendable, but it will be necessary to secure the co-operation of the other parties to the service before it could be adopted. Another difficulty will be the loss on terminal charges, from which a substantial revenue is now'derived.