COMMUNICATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7265, 22 October 1910, Page 5

COMMUNICATIONS

CHEAPEE CABLE BATES AID FROM ANOTHER LINK ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. By TologTaph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, October 20. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, had an interview with Lord Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and urged the desirableness of an Atlantic cable in connection vith tho Pacific cable. He stated that fcood judges estimated that it would pay handsomely at a third of tho present rates. A profit was possible, even if a second cable was necessary as a precaution against a breakdown. Sir George Reid bas arranged with tho Pacific Cable Board to prepare a detailed expert report, which Lord Crewe will .consider. A NEW! SHORT ROUTE. THE DEFERRED RATE OVER THE PACIFIC. (Received October 21, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 21. Sir George Reid incidentally mentioned to Lord Crewe a possible alternative routo avoiding the danger arising from trawling, via Shetland Iceland, Greenland, und Labrador. This would be no longer than the Atlantic line, tho greatest length between land points being only 850 miles. Experts calculate that it could be worked at four times the speed of the Atlantic. It had one drawback, in touching Danish territory, but only through wanton mischief could the cable bo cut in caso of war. Sir George Reid had ascertained that tho only two British-owned cables—tho Anglo-American and the Direct United States Company—were on the verge of absorption by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.' Representations have been initiated for the deferred Pacific rate, and a meeting of the cable companies and the British Post Office authorities has been called and will shortly consider tho matter.