CABLE ROUTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 836, 10 March 1903, Page 3

CABLE ROUTES.

Per Press Association-,

Christchurch, last night.

Tho Premier has received a cable message to tho effect that Canada has protested against tho facilities proposod to bo afforded to the Eastern Extension Cable Company by the Commonwealth. The proposed new agreement would reaffirm the agreement with Now South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Westraiia, which has been current for ten years and terminable at two years' notice on cither side. The company had tho right to establish offices in four centres as well as Queensland, and claimed that tho agreement was to reduce charges for cables botween Australian colonies, India, and China. Tho proposod agreement with Victoria and Queensland more than compensated for any loss that might bo sustained by thoso States from the changes. Mr Seddon pointed out that during the Colonial Conference application had been made by the Eastern Cable Extension Company for twenty years’ extension of the agreement, and as the Commonwealth had taken up the position a 3 one of the contracting partios, New South Wales and Queensland objected to the proposal. Sir Wilfrid Laurior himself usked Sir Edmund Barton that sufficient notice of any. proposed change should be given the colonies interested. Mr Erick gave facilities to the Eastern Extension Company, which wore a great breach of faith, and exception was taken to this at the time by Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, and Canada. By tho present proposed agreement, which had yet to be ratified, Victoria and Queensland would be brought in on the same terms. The result would be that tho company would not only have separate offices, but separate lines for traffic, independent of the Government offices. They would also be given other advantages over the Pacific cable. Tho New Zealand Government strongly objected, and protested against the proposed arrangement, a copy of which has been cabled to the AgentGeneral, with instructions to bring tho matter before the Pacific Cable Board. The Premier pointed out that this was the first partnership that New Zoaland had been concerned in with the Commonwealth, and under the circumstances it would probably be the last. The rearrangement of cable affairs might result in increasing the amount payable by Canada and New Zealand towards the Pacific cable to make up any deficiency.