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8

It is beyond doubt that the present land transmission is the weakest feature in the Pacific cable service. Messages are not only unnecessarily mutilated, but delays are of too frequent occurrence, with the result that the Pacific cable is losing many of its best customers. The position at the present time is becoming somewhat acute, it being difficult to retain in its entirety the large business which has been laboriously built up in New Zealand. Although I have no exaci data before me as to the cost of a suitable telegraph-line across Canada. 1 think 1 am well within the mark in putting it down as under £160,000, which should surely be a small matter for the partners in the Pacific cable scheme to provide for. \part from its value as a link in the Imperial (able scheme, I venture to suggest that your Government would probably find it advantageous to have a proprietary interest in such a line, which would clearly be of great value for the transmission of Government messages. I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the Prime Ministers of the British and Commonwealth Governments, with the request that they will give their representatives on the Pacific Cable Board such instructions as may be deemed necessary. 1 hope that you will see your way to lend your support to bhe scheme. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Prime Minister. The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada, Ottawa. fP.C. Conetr. 09/52.] ________^_^_____ No. 4. The Right Hon. the I'himk Minister, Wellington, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. London. Si,,. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 18th November, 1909. I have the honour to forward for your information copy of a letter I have addressed to the Prime Minister of Canada on the subject of a State-owned land-line across the Dominion of Canada. to be worked in co-operation with the Pacific cable. If you are favourably disposed to consider the proposal, might 1 ask that you will give such instructions to your representative on the Pacific Cable Board as may lie necessary. ' have, &c, The RigW lion, (he Prime Minister. London. J. G. W.\ltl>. Prime Minister. [Letter in similar terms sent on same date to the Hon. the Prime Minister of Australia,.] [P.C. Conetr. 09/48.] .^^—— No. 5. The Righi Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Chairman. Pacific Cable Board. London. ft IR; _ ■ Prime Minister's Office. Wellington, 18th November, 1909. Herewith 1 have the honour to forward for your information copies of letters I am forwarding to the partners in the Pacific cable. I need scarcely say that if the Pacific cable is to retain its present business it is imperative that action in the direction indicated in my letters should be taken at an early date. 1 regret to notice that the record of errors on the Pacific cable system is now comparing very unfavourably with the Eastern Extension Company's results. While il would appear to be the case that the Atlantic cable companies are often responsible for delays, I am of opinion that a Government-owned land-line across Canada, witli a representative of the Pacific Cable Hoard in America,, who would be in close touch with the head offices of the Atlantic companies, would result in a material improvement of the present unsatisfactory conditions. I have, Sec., The Chairman. Pacific Cable Hoard. London. J. G. Ward, Prime Minister. [P.C. Conetr. 09/27.] _____^_^________ No. 6. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney. S, R) __ General Post Office, Wellington, 28th November. I D 0 ,.). Herewith I have the honour to forward for your information copies of letters forwarded by the Prime Minister to the Governments of Great Britain, Canada, and the Commonwealth, and to the Chairman of your Hoard, on the subject of a Government-owned land-line across Canada. You may think it necessary to write to your Board on the subject, and to give such further information as you may deem desirable. I have. &c. D. Robertson, Secretary. J. Milward, Esq., Manager in the Pacific. Pacific Cable Board, 64 Pitt Street. Sydney. [P.C. Conetr. 09/46.] __^____^^__^—. No. 7. The Manages in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Oflice, Wellington. g lß __ Dixson's Buildings, 64, Pitt Street, Sydney, Bth December, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of, and to thank you for, your letter of the 28th ultimo covering copies of letters forwarded by the Prime Minister of the Dominion of New Zealand to the Governments interested in the Pacific Cable on the subject ■>{ a Covernment-ow ned land-line across Canada.