CHEAPER CABLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14343, 22 October 1910, Page 3

CHEAPER CABLES.

SIR GEORGE REID’S VIEWS. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, Oct. 20. Sir George Reid interviewed Lord Crewe, Secretary for the Colonies, and urged the desirability of laying an Atlantic cable to connect with the Pacific line. Ho stated that good judges estimated that it would pay handsomely at one-third of the present rates, and a profit was possible even if a second cable was necessary by way of precaution against a breakdown. Sir George has arranged with the Pacific Board to prepare a detailed expert report for Lord Crewe’s consideration. Sir George Reid incidentally mentioned to Lord Crowe a possible alternative route,, avoiding dangers to trawling, viz., Shetland Islands, Greenland and Labrador. It would he no longer than the Atlantic route, and the greatest length between laud points would he only 850 miles. Experts calculate that it could bo worked at four times the speed of the Atlantic cables. The drawback was that it touched Danish territory, but only by wanton mischief or in case of war would it bo cut. Sir Geo. Reid ascertained that there were only two British-owned cables- — the Anglo-American and the Direct United States Company, which was on the verge of absorption by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Representations had been initiated for a deferred Pacific rate. A meeting of the cable companies and the British Post Office would be called shortly to consider the matter.