THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 7 July 1899, Page 5

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

CONFERENCE IN LONDON

TENDERS TO P.E CALLED

LONDON, July 6. Lord Strathcona, High Commissioner for Canada in London, and the Agents-General for Victoria, New .South Wales, New Zealand, and Queensland, conferred with Sir Michael Hicks-Beach and Mr Chamberlain in reference to the Pacific cable. Mr Chamberlain, without any pressure being used, unreservedly agreed that the cable should be an Imperial one, on the basis of the reports oi; the House of Commons Committee. It was decided to appoint a Board upon which Great Britain will have three representatives, Australia two, Canada two, and New Zealand one, to arrange preliminaries, to invite tenders, and to prepare a tariff. Sir Andrew Clarke, Agent-General for Victoria, suggested that Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales sshould have a delegate each, and Lord Strathcona claimed three for Canada, b\it neither pressed their claims. The impression prevailed that owing to the increased cost of copper and indiarubber, the tariff would have to be 3/0 per word. The question of a duplicate cable was discussed, and probably alternative tenders will be invited for one or two cables. MELBOURNE, this day. The "Age" dealing with the Cable Companies deputation re the Pacific cable says the statement that a (Jape cable is impossible because India and Australasia will have none of it is rather too strong a way of putting it. Australia is by no means unanimously ' in favour of the Canadian-Pacific line, and it. may be supposed the Victorian Agent-General, at any rate, will be instructed to inform the coming Conference that Victoria will not accept any liability in connection with that route. We at this end are aware that there is every prospect that trade with the Cape will become an important factor, while there is little prospect of finding- any market in North Western America. As regards possible breakdoAvns the Cape route is admittedly superior.