PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 February 1926, Page 9

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

CANADA’S ATTITUDE

AN AUSTRALIAN EXPLANTTON

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Feb. 18, 12.40 p.m. MELBOURNE, Feb. 18. Tli e Federal Prime Minister, replying to questions in the House of Representatives, said that advice had bfeen received that an application was being made to the Canadian Government for a license to land the new Pacific cable on Canadian territory. The Canadian Postmaster-General has replied that it would be preferable that certain matters outstanding between Ms department and the Pacific Cable Board should be adjusted to the satisfaction of Canada before granting the license. No direct action had been taken by the Commonwealth Government, as the matter was subject to negotiations by the Pacific Cab'e Board, on which the Commonwealth was represented. The Canadian Government had not expressed to the Commonwealth Government or. as far as it was known, to any other of the participating Governments its intention to withdraw from the Pacific Cable Board. It was impossible to say at this stage what effect the withdrawal of Canada from the board >ht have on the Commonwealth. It was not a fact that one of the reasons mentioned for the attitude of the Canadian Government was the imposition bv the Commonwealth of high terminal a <xes. whereas Canada - imposed no charge. Consideration was being given, but no conclusion had yet been reached regarding a resolution passed .by the third Imperial Press Conference protesting against the terminal charge, and asking for its revision on equitable business -lines. The Postmaster-General, Mr Gibson, said that for 1924-25, receipts from cable charges were £151,702 from ordinary traffic, and £11,339 from press traffic. The loss to the telegraphio branch of the Postal Department for 1922-23 included ordinary telegrams £SOOO. press telegrams £299,000, lettergrams £6OOO.