PROPOSED NEW CABLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15273, 13 October 1911, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW CABLE.

CONSIDERED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MELBOURNE TO BLUFF LINE AuVOCATEI). A special meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Chamtx-r of Commerce was held yesterday forenoon to consider tho question of what rotito the proposed new cable servico to New Zealand from Australia should follow. The members present were:—Messrs G. It. Ritchio {president). D. M'Pherson, .1. A. Johnstono, A. Lang, E. F. Dnthie, A. G. Patoiran, G. W. Gibson, Crosby Morris, W. F. Sligo, and A. It. Fisher. It was pointed out to the meeting that Ihero aif at the present timo two cable services to New Zealand, the Eastern Extension Company's line, coming via Svdney to Wakapuaka (Nelson), while that of the Pacific ('able Board (the All Red route) i< laid from Vancouver, via Fanning Island. Suva, and Norfolk Island, lo Doubtless Bay (Auckland). It was further stated that the Pacific Cable Board proposed! lo provide another cable lulween Australia and New Zealand, and that the Chamber had met to consider which would, in its opinion, be the b.:st. roulo for it to follow. After discussion it. was tlcciclod that tho most satisfactory route would he from Melbourne to tho Bluff. Tho following resolutions were then parsed unanimously

It hoinc announced through the pre* thai tile Pacific Cable Board proro«-s 'o provide a cnblo Ix-I.ween Australia and' New Zealand, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce urpefi ii|ion the Goveruinent. tho desirability of laving Mich second cable from Melbourne to the BinlT, for the following reasons: • 1. It would give tho southern parts of the Dominion equally ready acoess to the main Pacific cable is onjoyed at present, by the northern districts.

2. It. would minimise the risk of the southern part of the Dominion lvinp cat o(T from the cable, when communication witli t-Vip Xortli Island is interrupted. as occasionally occurs, ro.siilt iiiir in irricvous delay to southern messages; indeed, otir communication with tho whole \vor'.<l is cut off whon both Iho North Island and Wakapnaka arc isolated. 3. Tho adoption of a new route for the new connection would irive n crestlv increased 1 insnrcince apninst the total interruption of pommuniciition with kh" main Pacific cable, and would therefore lie a mind measure of puiMio policy. 4. The routo now proposed is presumably frrs> from the risks that ari?"

from p,-w?j|ile seismic disturbances. It would also piw ii triple servioc—from t.ho north and centre ard south of the Dominion—to t.hreo points in the Australian Continent. Tlio scoretnrv (.Mr IVtj>r Il.irrl was instrnoipd to fonvaiv.l tlio rpfohitions by wire to the Primo Minister and to tho Chambers of Cnmmcivp in Wellington, ('•hristchurch, and lnvercargill, asking for thoir support.