CABLE DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17483, 14 October 1920, Page 7

CABLE DEVELOPMENT

PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC LINES,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, October 12. Air Babington Smith, chairman of the Pacific Cable Beard, recently stated in a confidential report to the board with reference to the duplication of the Pacific cable that he recommended an additional cable between Auckland, Suva, Samoa, and -Fanning Island, avoiding Norfolk Island. The estimated cost was £940,000. He did not recommend duplication between Fannin"- Island and Bamfield, partly because the cost would be £1,400,000, which was prohibitive, and partly because of a possible alternative connection with San Francisco via Honolulu, the estimated cost of which was only £259,000. It is understood that Mr Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia) and Sir 'Timothy A. Ooghlan (Agent-General for New South Wales) opposed the latter, and insisted on the maintenance of the all-British character of the service. The board’s accumulated reserves exceed £1,200,000, therefore they will not require financial assistance to duplicate the cable; but in view of the fact that the cost of construction trebled dining the war, it has been deto postpone action pending a decline in prices. Some members of the board unofficially favor the acquisition of one Atlantic cable to complete the All Red route in conjunction with the Canadian-owned land l\ne,—A. and N.Z. Cable.OFFER. FOR AMERICAN CABLE. NEW YORK, October 12. The ‘ New York Tribune ’ London correspondent states that the British Government have offered to purchase the IrclandNewfoundland submarine cable belonging to _ the United States Cable Company! which is American controlled. It is stated that the price is £750,000.—A. and N.Z. Cable.