F.—2

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Hon. Mr Kidd (New South Wales) Mr President, the motion which has been submitted by you in connection with this question is almost in accord with what I was prepared to suggest to this Conference myself. I arrived at this conclusion with the aid of Mr. Walker, of the Telegraph Department of New South Wales, after going very fully into the scheme submitted by Mr. Sandford Fleming, and his and other schemes seemed to be of such an impracticable character that the only scheme we thought at all practicable was that submitted by yourself yesterday The only difference was that we thought, perhaps, the cable between Bundaberg and Gomen Bay might be utilised, and that then Fiji and the north of New Zealand might be connected. We thought that might meet all the requirements of the colonies in connection with the Pacific cable. But the alterations suggested by yourself and partly approved of by the Conference yesterday would start it at Brisbane, or the other route would be to take advantage of the cables laid from New Zealand, and start it at New Zealand just in the same way, and taking up the same line as we would by going from Brisbane to New Zealand and on. There was a communication sent some time ago by the London Post Office, copy of which I have here, and there was a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies at Home, for the purpose of having it forwarded to the naval authorities, I suppose, in order that they might suggest a scheme but what they submitted was very much on all-fours with Mr Fleming's scheme. From Vancouver to Fanning Island, I think, is a distance of something like four thousand and odd miles, and they make a calculation that if the cable was taken that way it would cost twice as much as the ordinary cables would cost. Their estimate of it would be about £2,474,000, but they point out that it would necessitate a cable being manufactured of more than twice the substance of ocean cables generally However, your proposal, sir, of course does away with the necessity for a cable beyond the ordinary size, therefore it will not be nearly so costly And on inquiring into and discussing the matter we arrive at the same conclusion as you do yourself, with the only difference that we thought we might take advantage of the cable already laid between Bundaberg and New Caledonia, and branch them in a similar way as has been done in connection with other cables, which would reduce the distance to 6,751 miles. There, however seems to be such a strong feeling against having to do with the French company, that your proposal, as worked out by your department, seems to be the best one. I have therefore much pleasure in heartily supporting the resolution submitted by you, Mr President. I would like to lay on the table a report on the proposal of Mr Sandford Fleming, which I think proves the position we have taken up in adopting the proposal submitted by yourself to be the proper one. I hope honourable members will approve of this report being printed, together with the other documents before this Conference. I also submit a map setting forth the line suggested, also the schemes formulated by Mr Fleming. There is also a letter here from the Hon. Audley Coote, which is full of information, but of course I would treat Mr Coote's proposals in much the same way as I would Mr Fleming's, for the simple reason that they had evidently a personal object to serve in framing such proposals. However, Ido not think we can have too much information of a character which would justify us in the conclusion we have arrived at, so with the consent of the Conference I would submit both Mr Sandford Fleming's and the Hon. Audley Coote's letters, and move that they be printed. Hon. Mr Wynne (Victoria) Mr President, I have to say that, as regards our own colony, we are fairly well served, or rather we are well served, by the present system, but this is capable of carrying a much larger number of messages than at present sent, but if all the colonies agree to this scheme through British territory, and the Imperial Government and Canada agree to pay their proportion, I am quite safe in saying our colony will join in and support the movement. Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland) Ido not think I need say anything further than that lam in accord with the resolution suggested on Tuesday last, which was to the following effect: — That, considering the important interests involved, both of a national and commercial character, in the establishment of a Pacific cable, the representatives of the respective colonies assembled at this Conference recommend their Governments to enter into a guarantee for a period of years to recoup the loss, if any, made by a company undertaking the laying of a Pacific cable, the cost of cable not to exceed £1,600,000, the interest chargeable on such amount to be 3 per cent., office expenses, maintenance, &0., and amortisation fund to be computed at 4 per cent.; the maximum tariff to bo at the rate of 3s. per word for ordinary telegrams and for Press telegrams 6d. per word to and from Great Britain and the colonies and that the United Kingdom be asked to join in such guarantee. I consider it would be better to leave the selection of the route to the Canadian Conference. Hon. Dr Cookbuen (South Australia) Sir, in accordance with the custom adopted by previous representatives, the South Australian representative on this occasion will abstain from voting. Western Australia will, I also understand, do the same as her representative on previous occasions has done. Under these circumstances it is unnecessary for me to enter into any detailed criticism of the proposal submitted. I can only say that South Australia has every reason to be satisfied with the generous treatment accorded to her in the past by the other colonies in the matter of telegraphic communication with Europe, and I have every reason to trust that the same consideration that has previously animated the other colonies will in the future be extended to South Australia in recognition of her efforts in past days. Hon. Mr Ward (New Zealand) It is unnecessary for me to avail myself of the right of reply, as it appears there is a general concensus of opinion on the matter Of course, the representatives of South Australia and Western Australia have taken up the attitude that is to be expected from them. lam very glad to hear the Hon. Mr Kidd express the opinion that.it is not desirable for the colonies to have the communication between the Old Country by way of a French cable. I beg to move the motion standing in my name, and which has been seconded by the Hon. Mr Kidd. And the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative, South Australia and Western Australia abstaining from voting. Besolved, That, considering the important interests involved, both of a national and commercial character, in the establishment of a Pacific cable, the representatives of the respective colonies assembled at this Conference recommend their Governments to consider the desirability of entering