PROPOSED NEW CABLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 3

PROPOSED NEW CABLE

CONSIDERED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MELBOURNE TO BLUFF LINE ADVOCATED. A special meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday forenoon to consider "the question of what route the proposed new cable service to New Zealand from Australia should follow. The members present were : —Messrs G. R. Ritchie, (president), D. M'Pherson, J. A. Johnstone, A. Lang, E. F. Duthie, A. G. Pateraon, G. W„ Gibson, Crosby Morris, W. F. Sligo, and A. H. Fisher. It was pointed out to the meeting that there are at the present time two cable services to New Zealand, the Eastern Extension Company's line, coming via Sydney to Wakapuaka (Nelson), while that of the Pacific Cable Board (the All Red route) js laid from Vancouver, via Fanning Island, Suva, and Norfolk Island, to Doubtless Bay (Auckland). It was further stated that the Pacific Cable Board proposed 1 to provide another cable between Australia and New Zealand,' and that the Chamber had met to consider which would, in its opinion, be the best route for it to follow. After discussion it was decided that the most satisfactory route would- lb© from Melbourne to the Bluff. The following resolutions were then passed unanimously:—

It being announced through the press that the Pacifio Cable Board proposes to provide a second cable between Australia and 1 New Zealand, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce urges upon the Government the desirability of laying siuch. second cable from Melbourne to the Bluff, for the following reasons: — 1. It would give the southern parts of the Dominion equally ready access to the main Pacific cable as is enjoyed at present by the northern districts. _ 2. It would minimise the risk of the southern part of the Dominion' being cut off from the cable, when communication with the North Island is interrupted, as occasionally occurs, resulting in grievous delay to southern messages; indeed 1 , our communication with the whole world is cut off when both the North Island and Wakapuaka are isolated. 3. The adoption of a new route for the new connection would give a greatly increased' insurance against the total interruption of comnranication with the main Pacific cable, and would therefore be a sound measure of public policy. 4. The route now- proposed is presumably free from the risks that arise from possible seismic disturbances. It would also give a triple service—from the north and centre and south of the Dominion —to three points in the Australian Continent. The secretary (Mr Peter Barr) was Or etruoted to forward the resolutions by wire to the Prime Minister, and to the Chambers of Commerce in Wellington, Christohuroh, and askeig for their support.