PENNY-A-WORD CABLES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 3

PENNY-A-WORD CABLES.

AN INTERESTING. DEBATE.

[Press Association— CoryßianT.]

London, Nov. 12. An interesting discussion taoU placa at tne cable conference on Mr Henniker Heaton's penny-n-word cable scheme. - ■ , Mr Lemieux, Postmaster-General 'or Canada, said he believed that • heap oablet would be the key taall the numerous problems confronting the merchants, and statesmen of Empire. He believed that a penny.-a-word cable was a grand idea, to be attained sooner or later. The cable companies had long had a cnance of showing what could be done. If a shilling a word was the best tney could achieve it was certainly pro hibitive, and the .Gavercment oueht to institute an immediate inquiry as to the possibility and prospects of the practical success of the penny rates. ' . : 'Mr BMarcom :(tbe inventor of wireless telegraphy) said he doubted, owing to the coat of cable?, .? ii it was possible to sand peony aword messages a great distance *«no Jt incurring substantial loss. A ren- " able service of a panny-a-wprd wireless between Canada a ndßrU . ain would be possible in time. They had made a step in the right direction. by sending press messages at . -^2 a « and he bad every confidence tuat wireless telegraphy ""i?"^?,,?!"! before long would come. It would be of general use for commercial pur-, poses over great distances, possibly round the world. If the Government would pay t&e workin? expenses of stations on both sides ol the Atlantic and give comparatively moderate subsidies, he would be prepared to transmit a penny a word meagage to.Oanada by .wireless. Sir George Doughty, M. P., contended that the British people, would be willing to grant subsidies until the experiment was successful. Mr Nsilson,: speaking m defence of the cable companies, argued that in the case of the - Antipodes 36 times the present traffic would be needed at a penny :-to earta the same gross revenue earned at 3s .a word, and at least 72 cables would be needed at penny rates, necessitating the construction of 68 new lines at a cost of £170,000,000, and then there would be only the present, gross revenue to provide interest on capital, work-, ing expenses, . repairs, and depreciation. He said that in view of tne present fierce cable competition it seemed absurd to contend that all the companies would enter- into a hideous conspiraov to maintain high rates. Mr Nielson referred to the Pacific cable losing £60.000 a year at 3s a word, and aai3 that 36 Pbcillo cables would be needed at a penDy a word, involving an annual loss ot £2,000,000 He declared that the sentiment was a sorry substitute tor sound finance. ".Mr tieaton bad given no estimate of cost of conducting the enormously increased traffic, and th.\t was an ominous omission. • Mr Parkyn and Lord Strathcona were optimistic. . . Sir John Barry, chairman of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, addressing the meeting, referred to the very unfair competition of the'Paoific cable. He complained of arbitary action of the. Australian Government in regard to the Tasamnian cable, the charges of which at the latest instance was unfair, tie also alluded to the hostile treatment the oompany had received since the Pacific cable was established. , • .■' ' Lord Jersey, chairman of the conference, moved a vote cf thanks to Mr Heaton, who in respon iing, Dinted what might happen if we had President Roosevelt here to deal with the cabling. .

(Various cable companies, interviewed, declared that the cost ot buvmg out the cable companies would be a stupendous undertaking. They said it was to be easily ondorBtood the colonial support of Mr Heatori'3 penny cade ssbeme, an a few millions of paople in Australia would ba using toe cable, wDilemore than 40,000,000 in the Motherland would bear: for an infinitely smaller benefit, a finge and inevitable loss. . (Keceiyed Nov 13, 0.57 a.m.V London, Nov 12. "The Times" commenting on Mr Henniker Beaton's proposals says cheaper cablegrams are of even greater importance to; the people than to professional business men. Such communication raises no issue of principle like commercial preference, and as a means of widening mutual knowledge and appreciation between all parts of the Empire all parties should he willing to endorse it.