THE INTERRUPTED CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11562, 28 January 1901, Page 4

THE INTERRUPTED CABLE.

' Since : .Thursday night we have had no European cables owing to a double break in the practically single line which unites the Australian continent' with the Eurasian system. Specially as such an interruption is felt now by the general public owing to the deep interest being taken in the recent death of our revered Queen and in the succession of her son, King Edward VII., it is a very eerious drawback at any time to commerce and industry. By far the greater part of cable business is supplied by our business houses ; its importance to them may be estimated by the fact that the charge of 5s 2d per word excludes all communications for which the mail can be made to serve. If it does nothing else the Pacific cable will provide an alternate route by which communication can be carried on -when either line is* interrupted. Such interruptions are not of infrequent occurrence, although ; they are usually : more speedily repaired. It is a remark-J able instance of the paralysing influence which has been exerted by j the Eastern Extension monopoly that in th 3 Twentieth Century the wealthy and progressive Australasian colonies, with their enormous British trade, intimate political relations with the United Kingdom and universal intercourse with the whole of the civilised world, should be thus dependent upon closely-re-lated cables crossing the con-tinually-disturbed East Indian waters. Fortunately, at the present time, there are no international complications threatening war. But an accident is as likely to happen, j and a "cut" still more likely to hap-j pen, were the situation reversed, i Our readers will recollect that a.'l "break" occurred during the famous j "Russian scare," and indeed was j largely responsible for it. Half a j generation later we are still in the I same position, still exposed to most serious danger, liable to be placed at any time in an intolerable predicament. The lesson to be learned is that the Pacific cable should be laid as quickly as possible, and supported in every reasonable manner by the Australasian Governments*. It is probable that before very long a United States cable will be laid | via Honolulu to Pago Pago. Should! this be done it will be the duty of j the Government to consider the question of making such connection with it as will give us easy access I to a neutral line. Then we should be tolerably safe against interruption. But that is in the future. The present fact is that Ave can only communicate telegraphically with Europe by an unsafe route, the owners of which have charged oppressive rates and have not offered us in exchange the most ordinary security against interruption. For the Cape cable is not being laid in recognition of. public need, but in order to pre-empt that route against the public cable service of which the Pacific scheme is the pioneer.