IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 100, 17 June 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

CABLES AN D RATES. AN ENLIGHTENING DISCUSSION. PO3TMASTER-GENERAL’S VIEWS London, Juno 16. Sir J. G. Ward, in moving a motion in favour of the redaction of cable .-.ites, said much had been accom•nislied, but cheapening had not gono , iU - enough. Postal experience showed taut reduction charges, to the point of securing to the public freer use of ebe services, produced a more profic- ■ ')lo working. As oversea feeling was oh at the present rates were due to a ring in the cable world, lie hoped the eonforonco would effect improvement m the direction of a more general use if the cables. Mr Herbert Samuel, Postmasterdcncr;il, pyivipivtlnsGcl unci siippoitccl tno resolution, and said that since last •uuferoncc the press rate had been educed, but he agreed the progress ,vao not adequate. Steps wore being taken to secure cheapening in several direction.?., lie lujpcd lor u 50 per cent, reduction on deferred •allies; secondly, a further reduction in the p ess rats; thirdly, tiic. Govinimciit intended to insert a clause in tlic now lauding licenses giving control over rates, providing security to companies against abuse ‘of that power by appeal to the Railway and Canal Commission; and, fourthly, developing wireless, which would have ’.ouio effect on cable rates. Ho assuicd the conference that the passing of the ■•.-. solution would ho followed by effective achievement. A Sir Wilfrid Laurior declared that all the trouble existing at present was •no to the Atlantic cables. An impression in Canada, almost amounting io conviction, was that a combine existed. Mr. Samuel’s suggestion would leal with combinations. ... ... Mr. Fisher said the increased faculties of reduced rates appealed principally to Australia and New Zealand, )ocauso they were dependent on tables or European and American information. Ho asked whether it whs, feasible to grant a low rate over the i ai ific cable for trows cabled from Australia to Montreal, whence it could bo posted to Britain, i ; Mr. Pearce asked whether the rost-naster-General had any information ii regard, to the refusal of tiie Jicas- ■ ivy’s sanction lor the consti nction* U i. now cable from Now Zealand to Australia bv the Pacific Cable Board, on the ground that it would interfere with the development of wireless tclexvr. Samuel agreed to inform the Exchequer of the strong desire ot Australia and New Zealand co have a cable board authorised. Mr. Asquith also promised ennsi mixtion, and the resolution was then adopted. , ' , , Mr. Pearce moved the nationalisation of tlie Atlantic cable to .Austirtlia. He believed this was the only way to /et a beneficial result-of the .outlined 111-Red Cable, including the Atlantic able and the Canadian land line. ‘I informer cost £489,000, v and the land lines £120,000. The estimated working maintenance of the cable was £21,500, and the land lino £02,000, with the set-off of . certain existing 'xpenses amounting to £22,000. It was estimated that the Board would have an immediate revenue of £36,000 in addition to new business. Oho AllRod lino was feasible, and was unlikely to require special financial assistance from Governments. Sir W. Larmier, after Mr. Samuel’s statement in connection with the previous resolution, preferred to reserve judgment on the present proposal. Sir J. G. Ward was strongly of opinion that nationalisation was the right course. Mr. Samuel’s proposals were important* but rates were c nly placed on a satisfactory basis through Government ownership. Nationalising was of greater importance Rom the Imperial viewpoint than concessions of

Sir J. G. Ward condone! that if !t could lie arranged to take ever private cables on’reasonable tonus, it would be the finest V in.? ever done for the Empire, and equally gcr-d lot’ commercial transactions. If t he ■ompanics were unwilling to so.! at market value to the Government the Umpire could lay a cable of its own. Even if tlio cost were tall a million, it would produce a substantia. 1 result. The Government aoutributi ms as a subsidy was only a small matter. 'Referring to the proposed second New Eoaland-Aiistralian cable, lie dcolaied its stoppage by the Treasury was rerrottaida. The South African and New F.nmdland delegates expressed themselves satisfied that Mr. Samuel’s proposals lid not favour nationalisation at prosent. Mr Samuel stated tiiat Mr Pearce’s proposal would involve half a milion. In view of the deficiency between the amount of work the Pacific •able would give the Antiantic cable, lie questioned whether the deficiency would bo made up by increased business. If the business were increased )y a large reduction in rates, the load vonl.d be made up, but the revenue \on!d not he increased. There was ’.ittlo prospect of a State-owned cable attracting business in the United States and Canada, because the land hues there were controlled by como.mies associated with the present aides. According to a - draft report, v’ne proposed cable would involve an of over fifty thousand, igainst an estimated revenue of twon'v thousand annually. The Govornnents concerned were asked to underlake that loss on tlio ground of efficiency of service. Although the present system was unsatisfactory it was worked with speed and accuracy. There was more force in tlio argument that the cable should bo laid in order to socuro cheaper rates. Though the Government was not justified in undertaking the expenditure involved, he suggested an alternative resolution Unit, in Hie event of considerable reductions, the trans-Atlantic rales remain unafVeeted. in tlio near future the desirability of laying a State-own-ed ruble between England and Canada would 1)0 considered by a subsidiary conference. Other resolutions having been withdrawn, Mr. Samuel’s was adopted. (Received 17, S.o a.in.) London. June 16. The afternoon precis of the Imperial Conference will not bo issued, it is understood. The conference considered the question of State-owned wireless stations. Mr Samuel explained that Britain was bound to the Marconi system. An Imperial system was impossible while parts of the kanplro tied themselves to different systems. The Conference approved Imperial postal orders, and redisenssed the question of the enforcement of commercial arbitration awards throughout the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward made a strong plea for universal penny postage, hut Mr Samuel’s objection that it would involve Britain in a loss of £IOO,OOO

annually caused .f. :o withdrawal of the motion. A conference sub-committee conferred with the War Office on defence details, the result of which will bo submitted to tlio full Conference at an early data.