A.—4,

288

9th Day A Cheapening of Cable Rates. [15 June, 1911. Sir WILFRID LAURIER— cont. The remedy, however, suggested by Mr. Samuel seems to me adequate to reach such an evil if it exists. We have introduced legislation on that line to try to take possession of the cable at our end of the line, and it is exactly on the line of this resolution suggested by Mr. Samuel—that is to say, that by giving the licences to the companies, the Governments interested should keep themselves the control over the rates. If that legislation is followed to its legitimate conclusion, it seems to me that we have reached almost the very remedy which we have in view and which would work satisfactorily. Having the control of the lines of the Pacific Cable practically under this board, having the tolls of the continental part under the jurisdiction of an independent judicial body, if we now have the control of the licences over the Atlantic it seems to me that we ought to reach the solution we have in view. For my part, I think Sir Joseph deserves much congratulation for having brought the matter to the attention of the Conference. As stated by Mr. Samuel, it suggests nothing practical, but simply draws the attention of the Conference to it, and the attention of the Conference having now been given to it, and the explanation having been made by Mr. Samuel, I think we are in a fair way to reach the desired settlement. Mr. FISHER : I want to be brief, and I want my colleague, the Minister of Defence, to speak. Two points are raised by this resolution : increased cable facilities and lower rates. These two points appeal particularly to New Zealand and Australia, because for four weeks we are dependent entirely for the information we receive about European or American affairs upon the cable news. It does not strike the ordinary person here how we are situated. The increased facilities will mean, I presume, lower rates and better conveniences of every kind. If we are going to have increased facilities, those facilities can only ■ appeal to me if there is going to be a larger amount of news. If this is not out of place, I would like to say, a better class of news. Sir Wilfrid Laurier talked about there being a feeling, almost amounting to a conviction, that there were certain interests on the American side of the water which prevented these facilities being as great as they might be. I can assure you that it not only exists in Canada, but that feeling has got as far as our own country. Of course it is not our business to investigate as to whether it is well founded or not, but at any rate it is there. Ido not know, as far as the present Government is concerned, how far the Government of the United Kingdom would go with the other partners in the Pacific Cable in providing a facility such as this for more speedy communication, say, from Australia to Europe—a low cable rate from Australia or New Zealand to Montreal, with the right of posting it at Montreal and vice versa. That would bring us within easy touch of you in a week's time. That is a suggestion which will ultimately have to go probably to the Pacific Cable Board ; but at any rate it is a proposition which has been made by our own Postmaster-General, and it is one, I think, which should have weight. A great part of the distance would be covered by the Pacific Cable. The other part would be the land lines on Sir Wilfrid Laurier's territory of Canada. How you are to treat us upon that line in futuie we do not know, but we are looking forward to some greater facilities, in the words of Sir Joseph, very diplomatically expressed, I think, in the direction both of expedition and cheapness. I do not propose to do more than say that anything that can be done by your Government, Mr. Asquith, or by the co-operation of all the Dominions together in facilitating communication and intercommunication speedily, cheaply, and accurately, the better it will be for all of us. Mr. PEARCE : The statement made by Mr. Samuel this morning, of course, gives a ray of hope to those of us in the southern part of the world who have been looking forward to some increased means of communication; but we feel that even that statement, although it is an improvement on the present position, is not entirely