THE RIVAL CABLES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 5

THE RIVAL CABLES.

<a : i CANADA'S OBJECTIONS.

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. . SYDNEY, Feb. 9,

The " Daily Telegraph " says :■—" The ob. jections of the Canadian Government to the Cape cable agreement were evidently base'd on the assumption that the Pacific cable was to be principally maintained by the high rates on Australian business being kept up. What the advocates of the Pacific cable clearly wanted was that we should discourage any reduction in the company's rates, so that when the Pacific cable, was completed it would be able to' cut under with a three shillings tariff. . If the Cape cable could be blocked, and the Governmen<ts\were foolish enough to do it, the company would still fight the Pacific cable by cutting the rates, and ais there is no intention, on this side at any rate, of creating, at great public expense, a kind of monopoly for an all-red cable, the competitors Would not be stopped. It could not be likely that any sensible community would decline an great reductions merely to bolster up a State-owned venture which is in the far future, and will be a questionable liability when it. becomes an accomplished thing." A QUEENSLAND MINISTER'S OPINIONS BRISBANE, Feb. & . Mr Philp considers that in\ agreement between the Australian States and the Eastern Extension Company should be concluded till the opinion of the Pacific Cable Board is obtained.