A SECOND PACIFIC CABLE.

Evening Star, Issue 14705, 25 October 1911, Page 6

A SECOND PACIFIC CABLE.

SHOULD IT NOT BE TO THE BLUFF?

The. Dunedin Chamber of Commerce recently affirmed the desirability of the Pacific Cable Board's proposed newcable heing laid not to Doubtless Bay, the. point touched by the first cable, hut between Melbourne and the BhifF, and the secretary of the chamber (Mr P. Ban) sent to the Prime Mimsier a letter on the subject. Sir J. G. Ward has telegraphed as follows: — In reply to your telegram, the representations made on behalf of your committee in support of the newcable being laid between Melbourne and the Bluff have been noted by me. I would point out, however, that the subject is entirely one for the consideration of the Pacific Cable Board, and nut the Government.

Mr Barf ha.s also received the following telegram from Mr John Milward, manager for the Pacific Cahlo Board at Auckland: — Thanks for message. Am confident the New Zealand Government and my board will give every consideration to representations from your chamber. Suggest you communicate with Postmaster-General, and favor me with reasons advanced for proposal.

The secretary of the chamber has forwarded copies of the resolutions wired to the Prime Minister on the Pith inst. to Mr Milward, informing him that there is a unanimous and strong feeling hero in their favor, and trusting that they will receive the careful and favorable consideration oi the board. Mr Ban- is also communicating further with the Prime Minister on the subject, suggesting that if for any reason it should he advantageous to lay the. cable from Sydney, or from any other part of the "Commonwealth, to the Bluff, the committee of the chaniI>er would be satisfied, as their main object is to secure the Pacific Cable Board's second cable from Australia to New Zealand to the southern end of the Dominion. It may be added that all the chambers of commerce, in the South Island arc supporting the Dunedin view of the matter. Their reasoning is strong and to the point. One consideration on which stress is laid is that of safety: if the two cables came on shore at one point and any disturbance breaks one the chances are that both would suffer. Further, in case of war a separate cable would increase the chances of communication not bein*; cut ofi. Again, for pure geographical reasons it seems wise to have, as wo should have by the proposed arrangement, one cahlo touching the north end of the Dominion, one, the middle (at Wakapuaka), a?id one at the southern extremity. Moreover, the south is now in danger of isolation when the land lines are down.

It is pointed out also that whilst tho business of laying a new cable is, of course, primarily tho company's concern, the company would not be likely to ignore any reasonable represontattoos made fay the Government. Some sort of consultation must have been contemplated, otherwise what would be the use of both branches of the Legislature passing a resolution as to the point of contact in the Dominion ?