403
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
244
The Conference met at 9.30 a.m.
New Zealand Queensland -
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
-
New South Wales
PACIFIC CABLE COMMITTEL :
Saturday, 18th January 1896.
PRESENT:-
Hon. W. P. REEVES, New Zealand.
Hon. A. J. THYNNE, M.L.C., Postmaster-General, Queensland. Hon. J. A. COCKBURN, M.D., M.P., Minister for Education and
Agriculture, South Australia.
Hon. J. GAVAN DUFFY, Postmaster-General, Victoria.
Hon. JOSEPH Cook, M.P., Postmaster-General, New South Wales.
Minutes of yesterday confirmed.
The Hon. Dr. Cockburn made the following statement with reference to the resolution No. 5 re Pacific Cable, viz. :-"South Australia is willing to join in the project provided that a guarantee, "either from the contributing Colonies alone or jointly with the Imperial Government, be given "that the financial position of South Australia as regards the Port Darwen line be maintained on "the basis of the average of the last five years."
At the
The Hon. Mr. Reeves stated that he had cabled to the Hon. Mr. Ward yesterday, as he had promised, with regard to the terms on which New Zealand would come in as a contributing Colony, and that a reply had been received to the effect that, of course, it would be very disadvantageous to New Zealand to come in on an equally responsible footing with the other three Colonies. same time Mr. Ward would be prepared to give way, and do so, annexing, however, the stipulation that Victoria and New South Wales should join with New Zealand in facing any possible loss on the present cable.
(6.) Moved by the Hon. J. Gavan Duffy, and seconded by the Hon. Mr. Thynne,—"That, in "the opinion of this Conference, the Colonies joining contribute equally to the under- taking." Carried; the Hon. Dr. Cockburn and the Hon. Mr. Reeves refraining from voting.
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(7.) Moved by the Hon. Mr. Cook, and seconded by the Hon. Mr. J. Gavan Duffy,-" That, in "the opinion of this Conference, in consideration of South Australia joining with the "other contributing Colonies in the Pacific Cable project, they would be willing, jointly "with Great Britain, to guarantee that Colony against further loss in connection with "their transcontinental line in consequence of the construction of the new cable." Carried.
(8.) Moved by the Hon. Mr. Thynne, and seconded by the Hon. Mr. Reeves," That, in the opinion of this Conference, the Earl of Jersey and Sir Edwyn Dawes be appointed on "the proposed Commission as the representatives of the Australasian Colonies." Resolved in the negative.
Hon. Dr. Cockburn moved." That a third representative be nominated to represent "the special interests of the Western Colonies," but there being no support-
The Hon. Mr. J. Gavan Duffy moved, and the Hon. Joseph Cook seconded, "That, "in the opinion of this Conference, Sir Soul Samuel, K.C.M.G., C.B., and the Hon. "Duncon Gillies be nominated as representatives of the Australasian Colonies on the Commission in connection with the Pacific Cable, and that thay be requested to consult on all important points the Agente-General for the Australasian Colonies." Carried.
K
(9.) The Hon. Mr. Reeves moved, and the Hon. Mr. Thynne seconded," That, in the opinion "of this Conference, it be a recommendation to the Governments represented at this "Conference to forward the foregoing resolutions to the Australasian Commissionere." Carried.
The Conference adjourned at about 12.45 p.m. to Monday next.
JAMES DALGARNO,
Secretary to Conference.
JOSEPH COOK,
President.
The Conference finally met on Tuesday, 21st January 1896, when minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Draft Report of the Conference was submitted, revised, and signed by the delegates, the Hon. Mr. Cook intimating that he had been asked to sign on behalf of the Hon. Mr. Reeves, for New Zealand.
Ministerial Conference on Pacific Cable Matters, &c., 1896. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Friday, 17th January 1896.
The President, the Hon. Joseph Cook, thanked the delegates for electing him to preside over their small but very important gathering, and said he was glad to welcome the representatives of the other
PAPERS.
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Colonies, and felt that the measures adopted at other intercolonial conferences rendered it unneces- sary for him to occupy any time in explaining the action up to the present on the matters they had to consider. They had two very important subjects to engage their attention: the proposals in regard to the Pacific cable, and the action of the Imperial Government in regard to the tenders for the new continct for the Federal Mail Service. He felt sure all the representatives were animated by the desire to equitably adjust the respective intercolonial difficulties that have hitherto stood in the way of giving effect to the accomplishment of the long-talked-of Pacific Cable. The whole question of the relationship of the Western Colonies to the scheme would doubtless come on for discussion, and would be dealt with in that federal spirit which was animating most of our Austra lasian national endeavours at the present time. He then proceeded to allude to the various routes which had been suggested, and thus opened the subject of the Pacific Cable for discussion by the representatives. This discussion throughout the proceedings was of quite a conversational character, and the shorthand notes thereof are for the most part, therefore, but an outline of all that was said.
The delegates conversed upon the proposed Pacific Cable question in all its aspects, which led to the determination to formulate resolutions for the information and guidance of the gentlemen who may be appointed to represent the Colonies on the proposed Imperial Commission. The first of these resolutions was submitted by the Hon. J. Gavan Duffy, and seconded by the Hon. Mr. Thynne :-
(1.) "That, in the opinion of this Conference, the Pacific Cable should be constructed and owned
jointly by the various Governments interested."
The Hon. Dr. Cockburn remarked: If you are appointing a Commission to inquire into this matter and make recommendations, is it not a mistake to bind them down too closely? You tell them they can only recommend in one direction in the matter of the construction of the cable; are they cot, being on the spot and in touch with the latest information, likely to be able to do better service by being left with a freer hand? You say they must confine their inquiries only as regards a cable to be constructed by Government enterprise.
The Hon. Mr. Thynne: I think we should endeavour to do away with all points of local con- flicting interests, so that our representatives on the Commission will be able to state that such and such is what Australasia desires. Let Australasia speak with one voice in the matter.
Of course we have not the power to dictate to the whole Commission, and we certainly have not yet all the knowledge which they are expected to gather; but it would facilitate the work of the Commission if our representatives were clearly informed of the wishes of the combined colonies, with whom it now rests to compromise among themselves all points of difference. I think considerable weight would be attached by the Commission to our opinion on those points on which we are in unity, or on which
we can agree.
The Hon. Dr. Cockburn: Does not the whole question of what we should prefer depend upon the terms on which we can get it? Mr. Sandford Fleming was at first in favour of the cable being constructed by private enterprise, but he found on inquiry that it was more likely to be successful by being taken up by the Governments. Now he is in favour of its being done by Government.
The Hon. Mr. Cook: It seems to me that there are four or five points. First of all, whether it is to be a Government scheme or a private one. Second, as to the proportion of cost among the colonies. Third, as to the route. Fourth, the special aspect of the matter relating to South and Western Australia. Fifth, the question of representation. I think we should take these points
seriatim.
Resolution (1) was carried unanimously.
The Hon. Mr. Reeves moved, and the Hon. Mr. Thynne seconded:-
"That, in the opinion of this Conference, the landing places of such cable should be only upon territory belonging to or under the control of the British Empire." Carried unanimously. The Hon. Mr. Thynne moved, and the Hon. Mr. Gavan Duffy seconded:-
"That, in the opinion of this Conference, the cost of its construction, working, and mainte- nance, be borne in the following proportions, namely:-Great Britain, one-third; the Dominion
Carried. of Canada, one-third; and the contributing Australasian Colonies, one-third."
It being generally agreed that the cable should follow as direct a track as possible from Vancouver to Fiji vid Fanning Island, the discussion then took up the various proposals for the route from Fiji to Australasia, those demanding most attention being the proposal for the route direct from Fiji to Queensland, and the proposal for the route to be from Fiji to New Zealand, and thence to Queensland. It was suggested by the Hon. Mr. Cook that to meet the local differences of Queens- land and New Zealand, the cable should come on from Fiji to Norfolk Island, and there bifurcate to The Moreton Bay on the one hand, and to the northern part of New Zealand on the other hand. merits of the various routes were talked over with the aid of maps.
The Hon. Mr. Reeves said New Zealand could not accept the suggestion that the cable should go simply to Queensland, New Zealand being left out. He must represent that to the Conference. If reference was inade to the report of the Wellington Conference it would be seen that a resolution was passed on the question of route, which clearly suggested that the route should be from Queensland to Auckland, thence to Fiji, or from somewhere on the coast of New Zealand to the north of Auckland to Fiji.
The Hon. Mr. Thynne objected to the Wellington Conference resolution so far as Queensland was concerned. It was not accepted by the Queensland Government.
The Hon. Mr. Cook: What is your objection, Mr. Thynne, to this Fiji to Auckland and Auckland to Brisbane suggestion?
The Hon. Mr. Thynne: There are several objections to it. It was, in the first place, very much further, and involved some 600 or 700 miles of cable more than was required.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-