CABLE INTERRUPTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6125, 11 March 1898, Page 1

CABLE INTERRUPTION.

United Press ,Asnoeir *■> on— By Electrio Telegraph — Copyright. Beceived March 10, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 10. A doputation from the Chamber of .Commerce waited on the Postmaster-General tourge the necessity of making tlie Pacific cable an accomplished fact. The President, referring to South Australia's proposal -to duplicate the land lines, said that much more permanent benefit than tbat was required to deal with tbe unsatisfactory con- I difcion which now prevailed in regard to the j despatch and delivery cf messages. It was further pointed out that no alternative cable route could serve the eastern colonies, and New Zealaud so well as the Pacific. The Postmaster-General in reply said that duririg the last three month 8 the delays had been xdbre- frequent ; and more vexations than ever, probably dne to the great increase'- of-, business., All the delays occurred beyond Adelaide. They could not be tolerated _$ucii longed He did not think that South Australia's proposal would make much difference, ; because the . duplicate line •would run on the same posts, so that when a pole went down both lines, would go with it. The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company also proposed to lay a special cable to - Glenelg afc a cost of -.200,000, but required a renewal of the agreement, which • was abont to expire, for twenty years, but said nothing about reducing rates. As business had doubled in the hyat five years a monopoly for the next twenty yeara evidently would be a most valuable concession. He was totally against the proposal that tbe colonies should guarantee the company that Australian business should not fall below -3227,000 annually, as last year it waß no less than -2270,000. Under the circumstances, he thought that the annual, subsidy paid by the colonies should be abolished. ' With regard to tbe Pacific cable, he was entirely in favour of the proposal, because he believed that the business of the colonies warranted an additional service. Until the result of the Commission sitting in London was made known, the Government could take no action. The South Australian Government's proposal is for a hard-drawn copper wire, to cost over -350,000, to cross dangerous creeks at different points from the present line. The working capacity of the double line would be. nearly fourfold that of the 'present wire. _ ■ The Agent-General, who is a witness ■ •.before the All-Bed Cable Committee in ■liondon,- has been informed of Ihiß new -departure.