F.—B

17

The above note takes no account of Government and Press traffic which is our ted under special conditions. Nor does it deal with traffic between Australasia and the Continent ot Europe or America, the rates of which are different by the Eastern and Pacific routes. C. 11. Reynolds, General Manager for the Pacific Cable Board. [P.O. Bates 05/81-84.] •

No. 29. Report of Pacific Cable- Conference, 1905. In approaching the consideration of the questions referred to us in connection with the working of the Pacific cable, we have endeavoured to bear in mind that this enterprise was Sated, not merely as a commercial undertaking, but also and largely for the purpose of promot me Imperial unity. We have deemed it of special importance that this, the first joint comme CM eXrprtc promoted by the various self-governing States of the Empire, _ should be earned through with success, and have, therefore, aimed at removing all sources of friction between .the Partner Governments and have sought to accommodate such difficulties as have arisen m the spirit June 1903 ge wouU be geryed at the present time by discussing lng tk« 2 » My 1903 »d to comnnmic.M to the Senate wiffi « reque.t lor its 6. Sir Barton claimed ir^ s J-£ Commoiwealth has obtained for the Pacific the term of the agreement to ajrea«> nableperioct tne increasing value," but we cable a very great advantage which can not taU to _ feel that this it has been inlperation for ten years. We therement will or will not be actually terminated o. agreement unless fore earnestly trust that the ll fo/ce until'the 31st day of clause 25 is amended so as to read ims g thgn be regtored to the October, 1913, and no longer. The partm «* m the^ ac agreeme nt, and will sf^^S^tSKJJ^iJ^^w^ by any agreemeilts arrived at by any agre ement, that it 7. We are advised that the recital in P~^ c ot including the New South is desirable to substitute one agreement for Western Australia, and TasWales agreement and those agreements on the terminamania, cannot safely Relied upon P^ cv provision exclud i ng S C SSSTb2 r SSa iX Commonwealth agreement, and we trust that such a provision will be inserted before the „ . the House of Representatives ' P 8. We understand, from statements made, by Sir ft. m J agre ement, that the Com3—F. 8.