THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4377, 24 March 1893, Page 2

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

The Present Guarantee Renewed. . Brisbane, March 22. At the Postal Conference to-day it was decided to coniinue the present guarantee to the Eastern Extension Cable Company at the present reduced rates, Queensland being Colony that dissented from this arrangement. Mr Ward, the New Zealand Postmaster-General, moved the resolution of whioh ho had given notice with reference to a second cable route, via the Pacific to Vancouver. He said his idea was that the route should bo from Queensland to .Aliipara Bay, Dew Zealand, thenco lo Fiji, Sandwich Islands, Fanning Islands and Vancouver. In the course of the discussion, MrUnmack, Post-master-General of Queensland, denied

that the co'nny had given Franoe the exclusive right to land a cable. It was impossible to get the Pacific cable exclusively through British territory, He locked upon ate .New Caledonia cable as an accomplished fact, having received a letter from Captain Audley Coote, the representative of the Sociiet6 Franouise des Telegraphs Sousmnrios, in which he mentioned (hat the company expected to have the cable laid by the first' week in August of the present year, and the wholo line across the Pacific Ocean completed in the near future. The discussion was adjourned, During the discussion upon the renewal of the cable agreement under the reduced rates, Mr Ward stated that the new sysiem was working satisfactorily in New Zealand. He hoped to arrange with the Cable CompaoJjHß for a large reduction of intercoloft^H

In speaking of bis motion respecting a new cable across the Pacific, Mt Ward Baid that if it were carried nono of the colonies would be committed financially. Tho promoters wouleV have to formulate proposals fo?the coneideration of tho respecti'e Go> vernmuots. In addition to %i places already mentioned, he sweated that it should touch at Sanmi. The advantages, nationally and commercially, of such a line, would be very great. The anticipated removal of the wool tariCby tho United Statos gave reason for the expectation of an enormous trade with the colonies, in addition to which there would bo the Canadian trade to consider. ,Mr Ward hoped a broad view would to taken of the proposal. MrKidd, Postmaster-General of Now South Walea, seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr Unmaok, of Queensland, and Mr Wynn, of Victoria.