LORDS OF SILENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2664, 20 November 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

LORDS OF SILENCE.

THE CABLE “RINGS” AND THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

(By J. Henni'ker Heaton, M.P., in the “Daily Mail.”

At a moment when envious rivals are looking for a joint in our armour, when dissolving forces are actually at work in the Empire itself, not an effort should be spared to strengthen and utilise tho precious sentiment of brotherhood which nature has planted in the great Anglo-Saxon race. 'lt is an inspiring conception to complete the nerve system of the Imperil organism by secur-ing-for our countrymen instantaneous cheap and perfect communication by telegraph with all parts of the great Ixxly from the brain, or, if you like the phrase better, from London, the heart of the Empire. The cable rings have built up a system with consummate cleverness on lines which, should make it a monopoly in perpetuity. This monopoly is vested -in a comjpany which, like a huge octopus, has fastened its tentacles upon almost every jiart of the British Empire. By establishing .prohibitive rates this telegraph system is devoted almost exclusively to the service of the well-to-do ; the toiling -millions in any one portion of the Empire being virtually as hopelessly cut off from the rest as their savage ancestors were before a boat had been launched. Worst, of all, we know that every British emigrant (200,000 leave us annually) is east off from the Motlier-country as if his patriotism and love of kindred and home had no value. ; THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

My arguments may be summed ujo thus. The Empire as a whole profits by, and should, therefore, pay for and work, every mile of cable and every wireless station. A penny rate is the inevitable corollary of this proposition. It is not easy for me to project my thought into the political world. But one may safely assume that so long as I merely appeal to the reason, or even the patriotism, of our rulers, I will he baffled. Our work is ever to educate the public up to the point of claiming its birthright—the freest, swiftest, cheapest possible means of communication, . whether to Vancouver or New Zealand. We want another Mr Chamberlain to fire the train. The Premier of New Zealand is the Imperial Man of the. Hour, and lie has many of Mr Chamberlain’s distinctive qualities—even his Christian name. What a splendid and opportune servicehe might render to the Empire at this moment if Jje would officially recommend the (proposal for State-owned cables arid wireless communications. The conception is worthy of the most illustrious sponsor; so grand, so simple, so near to absolutely free and instantaneous mental intercourse throughout his Majesty’s dominions ! For this very reason it is bound to revolt the bureaucratic instinct. One can imagine the alarm of petty official intellects at the idea of awakening so tremendous and uncontrollable a force, of massing the public opinion of 300 millions. -Who can foresee the effect of the change on business—the transfer of international correspondence to the wire, tho multiplication of turnovers, the annexation and opening of markets. And what man of kindly heart can think unmoved of the tide of liapfpmess that would swell up to the very doors of the poor! It is this long interval between the letter and reply, often one, two, and three months, which slowly but surely saps family affection and brings about forgetfulness, coldness, estrangement. THE CABLE KINGS. In too many instances the lives of the humble folk hero and over the sea are saddened and shortened by this hitter sense of separation. If impious or callous statesmen say all this is the fate, "the inevitable lot of man, I ask how they explain the fact that electric telegraphs were given to mankind just when the populous European centres had swarmed out into the waste places of the earth. No, let them be candidly selfish, if they will, but do not let-them deny that the finger of Providence is writing, writing. The Lords of . Silence are the Cable Kings. How long are we to be rinaer their subjection? The present generation can hardly he expected to make full use of cheap cables or wireless converse until the sixty governments of the Empire unite their forces. Then the 300 millions of our people will assuredly he found consulting, bargaining, discussing, planning, even gossiping together by electrical agency from one end of the Enfpire to the other, and wi+hout the slightest regard to meridians and other imaginary bars. We are asked to remember the Lord of Silence, the Cable King, or director in Old Broadrptreet," London;-'' ; Certaiur ly, he is entitled, id:fair dealmg,we may even treat him with a generosity which hG, has not: always evinced m his transactions. But he has shown himself unfit control iauy^nger^ vital means danger to pensioned: off like an effete Sultan Or Shah. The cable system must be nationalised, and at once.