Tasman Sea Cable.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 16, 18 October 1911, Page 5

Tasman Sea Cable.

The Prime Minister’s motion, “That the House approve the construction and laying a cable by the Pacific Cable Board between Doutbless Bay, or any more convenient point, and Australia, either direct or partly by means of subterranean cable across the North Island,” came up for discussion in the House tonight. Sir Joseph Ward said that, by making Auckland the headquarters of the cable station, and doing away with the Doubtless Bay station, and also in making Sydney the headquarters on the other side of the Tasman Sea instead of La Perouse, two- transmissions would be saved between Wellington and Australia, the number of transmissions being two instead of four. There had, he was sure, been a considerable loss of traffic in the last year or two as a result of delays through too many transmissions. By taking the cable direct to Auckland as proposed, the time would be materially reduced. The saving per year to New Zealand by the new system would be about £8000; in short, economy and efficiency both demanded it. QUESTION OF REDUCED RATES. Mr. Massey asked- if there was any likelihood of the cable rate being reduced in the near future. The Prime Minister replied that at the Imperial Conference he had moved that it was desirable to take all possible means to secure reductions in cable rates throughout the Empire. He had also urged that the Pacific Cable Board should complete the great Empire cable link, by having a cable of their own across the Atlantic between England and Canada. If that wore put into effect he would not be surprised if before very long we should have our cable rates reduced below a shilling a. word, probably to sixpence a word, or even less than that. He wanted to take the' opportunity, went on Sir Joseph, of expressing the hope that before long this country would have the ad-vantage of an independent Press cable service from the Old Country instead of being supplied with cable news that served both Australia and New Zealand. He had no hesitation in saying that the Government here should help in a material way to ensure a thoroughly independent service of news sent out for the newspaper readers of this country. As for the publication of New Zealand news in England we were hardly known. One would remain in England for weeks, sometimes months, and scarcely know that Australia or New Zealand existed. Canada had brought herself well before the people of England as the result of a good cable service, and the lesson should be a valuable one for us. COST OF CABLE. In reply to Mr. Allen the Prime Minister said he understood the cost of the cable between the Dominion and Australia would be about £175,000. The motion was carried on the voices.