3

1.—7

Besolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That this Committee meet at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow for the special purpose of considering the Pacific-cable question. The Committee then adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Thuesday, 25th August, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. W. J. M. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. McLean, Mr. McNab, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Eussell, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner, and Hon. J. G. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Government Printer attended, and gave information to the Committee concerning the printing of documents and maps ordered at the previous meeting. The Hon. J. G. Ward, having obtained leave from the Committee to amend the motion of which notice was given by him yesterday, moved as follows : — That, in the opinion of the Committee, — (1.) It is desirable that telegraphic communication between England and New Zealand vid Canada and the Pacific should be established. (2.) The Colony of New Zealand should agree to join with such of the Australian Colonies as are prepared to do likewise, upon the basis of a guarantee of four-ninths of the cost of construction and annual deficiency (if any) by such colonies, New Zealand's proportion of the guarantee not to exceed in any case one-eighth of the whole cost. (3.) For the purpose of working the cable it is desirable that a central authority should be empowered, on behalf of the contributing countries, to carry out the laying and working of a cable across the Pacific. (4.) The maximum rates for ordinary messages between New Zealand and the United Kingdom should be 3s. per word ; for Government messages, 2s. per word; for Press messages, Is. per word and 6s. per hundred words. (5.) The construction, control, and maintenance of the cable should be intrusted to the Canadian Government, upon the understanding that each contributing colony shall have the right to be represented and to vote upon all matters appertaining to policy, acceptance of tenders, or anything material in the management of the cable. (6.) The contributing country and colonies should jointly own and control the cable. Mr. Montgomery then moved, by way of amendment, to add the following words: " That it is. desirable that a sinking fund should be established out of profits to redeem the liability of the contributing countries on their guarantee." On the question being put, That the words proposed to be added be so added, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 3 : Mr. McLean, Mr. Montgomery, and Captain Eussell. Noes, 9 : Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Mr. McNab, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner, and Hon. J. G. Ward. And so it passed in the negative. The Hon. J. G. Ward's motion was then put and carried. Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. J. G. Ward, That it is desirable that, with a view of furthering the establishment of a Pacific-cable service, a conference of representatives from the several countries concerned should be held in New Zealand at an early date. Besolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That the above resolutions be reported to the House, and that the Chairman be requested to ask leave of the House to lay the evidence on the table at a later date. The Committee then adjourned till further notice.

Tuesday, 30th August, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. W. J. M. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. McNab, Mr. Montgomery, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner, and Hon. J. G. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter from the Government Printer having been read by the Clerk, Resolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That the resolution passed on the 24th August with regard to the printing of maps be rescinded so far as it applies to the map showing the proposed route of the Pacific cable.