45

definite proposal before us, before we can come to any conclusion at all. It seems to me that the proper course will be for the Australian Colonies to give this matter their full consideration, and then to make a representation to the British Government, as well as to our friends in Canada, as to vv.hat course they are prepared to take. I think they are entitled to demand from us some expression of what united action we are prepared to take before we can complain of their not putting , any proposal before us. These are the reasons that impelled me to bring- forward some definite proposal for discussion. If any better scheme can be devised no one will be better pleased than I shall be. At this early stage of the proceedings it is evident to me that the Australian Administrations have not had sufficient time to give full consideration to the conclusions of the Ottawa Conference, or the effect they had on the mind of the Imperial Government, and for that reason I will be prepared to adopt the suggestion made, and content myself with a somewhat less rapid advance in the direction of this cable than my resolution would have provided. Before I conclude, I would like to say a few words as to some of the circumstances that seem to have had a very considerable effect on the mind of Mr Cook in connection with these tenders. He has been much struck by the fact that no definite offer was made by any of these companies for the construction of this cable. Now lam not much impressed with that fact, because, if we look at the history of companies constituted for the purpose of undertaking work of this character, we find, first of all, something in the shape of a concession obtained by some private individuals, who thereupon set to work to find the capital necessary It would be asking rather much of any one of these tenderers, or any one of the people who would be inclined to enter upon an enterprise of tills character, to find funds at a few weeks' notice. An institution capable of carrying out a work of this kind is one of slow and moderate growth. Mr Cook is also impressed by the fact that the tenderers limited their guarantee to three years. I may inform him that that is in accordance with the published conditions, which asked for a three years' guarantee* It is the opinion of many people that when you have laid the cable on a sound bed, as the bulk of the bed of the Pacific seems to be, the prospect of interruption is less than in the beginning In submitting this resolution, I would like to say that I do not look on this Conference as anything more than a recommendatory body , the Ottawa Conference was the same ; and there is no power or body in existence that lias any greater power than that of recommending and advising. With regard to Mr Fleming's estimates, I am inclined to believe that they are fairly reliable. The PRESIDENT I admit there is a certain amount of fascination about the idea of a Pacific Cable, but, when we come here as business men, dealing with a practical question, we must look at it from a business point of view. Mr. Thynne said it did not much matter what we did, as we were only a recommendatory body, but lie must, not forget that we are here as Ministers of the various Colonies of the Australian Group, and, as such, anything we may do here must to a very great extent commit the Ministries of which we are Members. Any resolution to which we may agree may be quoted against us or our Ministries, as if that Ministry or Colony had assented to some definite proposal. That therefore makes us, or should make us, rather more careful in what, we say or what resolutions we agree to, than if we were merely delegates, not connected with the Ministries of the day Looking at it from a practical point of view, the first question is—is it practicable to make this cable at all' I find that considerable doubts have been expressed on that point. It must not be forgotten that there is a greater span to be got over than has ever been spanned by a cable before, and that the cable must be sunk to a greater depth than any previous cable has been. Even if it is practicable to lay the cable, we may well have some doubts whether the cost of the cable in the first place, and the subsequent expense of repairing.it, will not be considerably larger than the figures before us seem to warrant. Personally I think when the cable comes to be laid, even if actual survey shows a better route at a less depth, it will be found to cost more than we think, and ■considerably more to repair and maintain it. Assuming that it is practicable to lay the cable, the next question is would it be a good commercial transaction. Here I have reluctantly come to the ■conclusion that it would not be, I cannot see where the commercial success of the undertaking would come in Of course we have the usual facts and figures always brought forward on an occasion like this, but my experience has always been, when such undertakings have been proceeded with, the expenses are always found to be more and the receipts less. I cannot think that the present occasion would be an exception to that general rule. The various tendering companies have all treated the matter in a very chary manner, and I was greatly struck by the action of Mr Siemens in the matter He came forward and gave some very straightforward and no doubt valuable evidence as to the practicability of laying this cable, but when it came to a question of cold business tendering, that gentleman puts in a higher tender than any other, which shows that he knew that the theory was one thing, and taking the business risk was another thing. From the conduct of these tendering companies, and the evidence produced, lam inclined to think that as a commercial transaction this Pacific Cable would not pay If it does not pay as a commercial transaction, the question arises, are there any other considerations in its favour? I think there are. I think that for strategical and Imperial reasons, and for encouraging the growth -of the Imperial sentiment it would be a wise thing to lay this cable, if not now, at any rate in the not very remote'future. It would be a great spectacle to see the three great branches of the Empire united together, and in times of war it would be of immense value to the Imperial ■Government and the Colonies. If it is undertaken, it should be by England and her Colonies-co-operating together Of course we must remember that Canada is not so vitally interested in this question as we are. This will be to us not only a connection with Canada, but a direct