PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 February 1926, Page 5

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD.

HISTORY OF CANADIAN CON-

TROVWHSY

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.

VANCOUVER, Feb. 7. The Pacific Gable Board will probably make a reply to- Canada’s attitude at the March meeting. Meanwhile Canada remains as adamant in her objection to the duplication. It- is understood that Canada also objects to Mr. Hunter's appointment. The Canadian Office in London, acting* on the instructions of the Hon. O. Murphy (Canadian Postmaster-General) issued a- statement to the press detailing the objections and summarisng the reasons outlined in the November pamphlet, emphasising that Canada only agreed to the duplication of the Fanning Lsland-Honolulu section.

An authority conversant with the history of the cotroversyt stated’ that Canada was the first to, point out the necessity for the duplication, and differed from the board only as regards the length to be duplicated. Canada wanted the Fanning Island-Honolulu duplication, which meant (sending cables to and from Australia via San Francisco over the American land lines to Canada. Undoubtedly such duplication would have been cheaper, but it would have put America astride, the All Red route extension and handed over to her considerable traffic, which would have enabled her to dictate cable terms. It would have nullified the primary purpose for which the Imperial cables were laid and - made further developments dependent upon the decisions of the American cable companies, whose interests are not identical with those of a self-contained empi re. It is impossible, to understand Mr. Murphy’s attitude except on the grounds of personal objection. He is using the autocratic powers invested in the Canadian Postmaster-General. The critic does not believe Mr, Murphy’s attitude represents the view of the Canadian Cabinet and public.