THE "ALL-RED" ROUTE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 6 September 1907, Page 3

THE "ALL-RED" ROUTE.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON. July 25

All sorts of rumours are afloat in the Lobby of the House of Commons concerning the fate of the "All-Red" route. It is estimated that the cost of the Atlantic section would be .£225,000 for both the British and the Canadian Governments. There is

every precedent for the serious consideration of such a subsidy by the Imperial Government. We joined with the Canadian and Australasian Governments in subsidising the Pacific cable; on the motion of a Liberal Minister, Lord Rosebery, we financed the Uganda Railway; and, only five years ago, as Sir W. Laurier reminded the Conference, we gave a subsidy to the Cunard Company for the service to New York. The scheme for an "All Red" route has, undoubtedly, a stronger claim on Imperial support than any former plan of inter-communication.

The Government Committee appointed to deal with it is composed of the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, the President of the Board of Trade, the Postmaster General, and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. It is still busy exchanging communications with New Zealand and Canada on financial details, and may not be able to submit conclusions until the end of the session. The statement that the project has fallen through, cannut be accepted with too much caution.

Mr Lloyd-George, who was asked in the House on Monday "what progress has been made with the negotiations for the establishment of a fast All-British mail service to Australia and New Zealand?" said "the N matter is still under consideration, and I am not in a position to make any further' announcement at present." Asked further whether he had any idea when the Committee would report, the President of the Board of Trade replied, "No, I cannot say, nor add anything to what I have already said." •On Tuesday, Mr Lonsdale asked the Prime Minister "whether any conclusion has yet been arrived at with respect to the 'All-Red' route for mail communication, travel and transportation, which was declared by unanimous resolution at the Imperial Conference to be demanded in the interests of the Empire, and whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to recommend Parlia.ment to accord financial support to the scheme?" In reply, Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman said: "The matter is still under consideration, and lam not yet in a position to make any announcement."