F.—B

49

their respective rates, taking the risk themselves. In this case, however, it is assumed that South Australia would lower its rates to 4d. on ordinary and Government messages, and to 3d. on Press messages. This, I find, would land the colony—taking the last two years—in a loss of over £18,000 a year on present revenue. Thus, excluding Western Australian business (which goes vid Broome, and does not affect South Australia), and taking as before the average traffic of the last two years, the revenue of this colony on international telegrams at existing and proposed reduced rates would be as follows :—

If these rates are adopted in order to secure the reduced uniform tariff it may be assumed that the other colonies would, under the guarantee still in force, supplement the South Australian receipts up to £37,552, the amount guaranteed, until the Federal Government takes over the telegraph services, when the revenue will go into one Treasury, and one uniform Australian rate probably be adopted. In the meantime, or until we have federation, the percentage division would be preferable. With this proposal before them the position of the colonies in regard to the Pacific cable is materially altered, and it is well worthy of consideration whether, instead of the colonial Governments individually committing themselves to the large monetary responsibility involved in that undertaking, it would not be better to postpone the matter for a short time and leave it to the Federal Government to deal with, and in the meantime allow the Eastern Extension Company to carry out their plan. On the one hand, the colonies have an unconditional offer to lay a cable, costing, say, £1,800,000 sterling, along an entirely new alternative route, touching only at British territory, and giving a reduced tariff, without subsidy or guarantee of any kind, which will result in a large saving to the colonies, and tend to the development of trade with Africa. On the other hand, the Pacific scheme involves not only a large initial outlay of £2,000,000 or £4,000,000, according as one or two cables are laid, but a heavy annual loss for many years—a loss, too, which would be increased with another cable in addition to the three we have already. It may be safely assumed that if the rates are the same, and other things equal, the traffic will be fairly divided between the several routes, or gravitate towards that route which is the most expeditious. The Eastern Extension Company's present cables, via Darwin, have the great advantage of connecting with many feeding places, and will carry all the business with India, China, and other eastern countries; whereas the Pacific, after leaving Vancouver, will touch at no place of any importance, and will depend almost wholly on the traffic with the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The traffic with America is very small—not more than 4 per cent, to 5 per cent, of the whole—whereas we have a considerable amount of cable business with South Africa. With regard to the Pacific scheme, it is now generally admitted that, in order to secure as far as possible immunity from interruptions, it is necessary, or at least desirable, that there should be two cables. How far this feeling is justified will be seen from the following statement, showing the experience of the Anglo-American Telegraph Company with the Atlantic cables : — 1887 ... ... 2 out of 7 cables broken at one time, leaving 5 working. 1888 2 „ 7 „ „ 5 1889 ... ... 3 „ 7 „ „ 4 1890 2 „ 7 „ „ 5 1891 3 „ 7 „ „ 4 1892 2 „ 7 „ „ 5 1893 3 „ 7 „ „ 4 1894 ... ... 4 „ 7 „ „ 3 1895 3. ~7 „ „ 4 The route recommended by the Pacific Cable Committee at London, in 1896-97, was from Vancouver to Fanning Island (or Palmyra Island), Fiji, and Norfolk Island, with branches thence to New Zealand and Queensland. The Committee point out that " there would be a decided advantage in taking the cable via the Hawaiian Islands, instead of via Fanning or Palmyra Island, as the section would be shorter and less costly for the same speed, or faster for the same cost, and some traffic would, if no line is laid from California, be obtained from Honolulu ; but," it is added, " this would involve a departure from the principle of using only British territory." The Committee, however, later on have to admit that the Pacific cable, although connecting with only British territory, would necessarily be dependent on the American land-lines and trans-Atlantic cables. The telegraph-line from the eastern seaboard of Canada to Vancouver belongs to the Canadian Pacific Eailway Company, which connects at Canso, in Nova Scotia, with the Commercial Company's (an American company) three cables from Great Britain. The other Atlantic cable com-

r 7-F. 8.

Approximate Number of Words. Under old Rates, due South Australia. Under proposed new Bates, due South Australia. Ordinary messages... Government messages T\ . 1,437,843 42,608 117,998 j At 7d., £41,937 „ 5d., £888 „ 4d., £1,966 At 4d., £23,964 „ 4a., £710 „ 3d., £1,475 Press messages Total £44,791 £26,149