CABLE COMMUNICATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14600, 26 February 1913, Page 10

CABLE COMMUNICATION.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.*! DUNEDIN, February 25. Air Johnstone also read a memorandum on the subject of cable communication, which included the following clauses: —"I am strongly of opinion that it would be of tho greatest advantage to tho Empire to complete the All-Red cable communication between Britain and Australasia by laying down a line from Britain to Canada. Apart fro.n strategic advantages, it would, in my opinion, be of benefit to the Alother Country and the Dominions to have a through service in relation to which we would be independent of the existing Trans-Atlantic lines. Suitable ieduction would lead to a great amount of correspondence being conducted by cable, which must now pass by mail. I should like to see a system of deferred messages established, to be carried over the wires when business is slack as in case ol the present deferrsd cables ., but without an.- restrictions as to words used. The existing provisions for deferred messages aro of no service to business people, because code language is not allowed. It is cheaper to code matter sent and pay full rates upon it. Weekly market reports should be received by all producing countries from thoso countries which need products. Cables containing these reports could perhaps be despatched on Sundays, and accepted at a reduced rate of, say, 6d per word in the case of New Zealand/ In answer to questions, Air Johnstone said he did not think there should be much difference between rates for code and plain word messages. He thought cables should bo used to bring all parts of the Empire closer together, commercially and socially, and that this tie should be in the hands of our own people. Air T. Garnett remarked that in London big commercial exchanges

juoted market movements most ac-ur.-t-dy, and the High Commissioneassessed those sources of information. The Chairman: It is largely » •natter between you and your High Commissioner. Mr Loudon read a memorandum by Air G. Fenwick, in which the following passages ocurred: —"It is a matter for some measure of satisfaction that cost of commercial and public cables has been cheapened through the inauguration of a system of deferred cables for which -in appreciably lower rato is charged The concession is welcome, but it can only "ie regarded as an instalment of reform. Competition of other nations is being felt moro and more keenly by British manufacturers and if by cheapened cable facilities, any help can be secured to merchants and tradesmen of tho Empiro then surely the question is one well within the scope of the Commission's duty. Another matter probably worthy of attention is the question of English postal rates on overseas newspapers sent to Great Britain and reposted thero to friends and subscribers throughout the Kingdom. The practically prohibitive rates imposed on overseas ncwsnapers posted in England can be viewed as a check on that knowledge of affairs of distant parts of the Empiro which is unquestionauiy one of the means of promoting trade intercourse and the development of far distant colonies by immigration and in other ways." NATIONAL EXHIBITION. Air Loudon presented a memorandum in support of a remit on the subject of an Empire National Exhibition. It wa s stated that tho holding of such a series of exhibitions as proposed in,say, London, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and possibly India, at intervals of threo years would lead to extensive and mutual exchange of visitors from ono part of the Empire to another, most of whom would be business men with families. The beneficial influence of closer acquaintanceship thus induced, should prove an important factor in promoting unification and solidarity of the Empire. Such exhibitions would be solely for advertising tho Empire, not to bring together products of other competing nations. There was a feeling in the colonies that the British manufacturer was slow to adopt new methods. He did not think the colonial governments would shrink from tho expense. Ho did not admit that exhibitions would entail a loss. Air J. Inglis Wright said the main idea was to create a means of bringing the people of the Empire closer together. Each country was preparing for show whatever it had as specialities. The members of the Dominions' Royal Commission will reach Christchurch by the second express on Saturday and leave the following Wednesday for Wellington .-