The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-08-29
A PACIFIC CABLE
BIlacl! firm Sir Charles TOP
psfs Recent Speech.
OTTAWA PARLIAMENT DEBATE
Csssas's Psrsmosst Interest 10 Cuiii,s,ius
the Trade Of China AMI
Japan.

The unanimity of feeling on the Pa
cific cable question in the Canadian
Parliament was attested by Sir Charles
Tupper's speech in the House Of Com
mons on July Goth. The Opposition
leader said:
Some time ago, when the Hon.
Postmaster General placed his resolu
tions on the order paper, had the
great pleasure Of congratulating the
Government upon the conclusion at
\ which they had arrived in relation to
this matter, and now beg to add my
hearty congratulations to my honor
able friend, Mr.. Mulock, for the very
lucid and able manner in which he
has put this important question before
the House"
In the course of his address on pre-
senting the resolution, Mr.. Mulock
said:
''Quite few weeks ago the country
appeared to be startled by the infor-
nation that Great Britain had given
. monopoly to the Eastern Extension
Cable Company, so that no other cable
company could land in Hongkong with
In the period Of twenty-five years after
1893. When you come to read that
agreement see nothing in 1t to cause
tn lnnIt fnr ont hot
tablish cable communication with the
Orient when We establish connection
by cable with Australia. That agree
ment provides that the Imperial Gov
ernment can purchase a line of cable,
the second cable constructed between
Singapore and HOngkong, for the sum
Of three hundred thousand pounds.
which ] presume fairly represents its
cost. Once the English Government
acquires that cable there only remains
the connecting link between the Main
land and Australasia to establish direct
cable communication via Australia be-
tween Canada and China and Japan.
And II is inconceivable that II the two
great Colonies Of Canada ana Austria
lasia have united themselves by cable,
particularly in view of the fact that
the Colonies Of Australasia own tele-
graph lines across their island cOnti-
nent. anything can prevent MS from
forcing our way into China and Japan.
Nor would it be necessary, ! think, for
us in that case, even II Great Britain
did not exercise her power of pre-emp-
ton in regard to the cable between
Singapore and Hongkong, to resort to
that, because the Eastern Extension
Company, which at present own that
line, would recognize the irresistible
force OF the Empire, and be prepared
to give fair rates, and thus make a
duplication of the line unnecessary un-
less an increase of business should
make such "A step advisable for busi-
ness reasons. Therefore | regard the
proposition, though II nominally pro-
vides for communication only between
Canada and Australasia, as practically
completing cable communication be-
tween Canada and China and Japan. If
so, II is for us to contemplate the use
fulness to the trade of Canada of such
a development of cable communica-
ton"
Continuing. he pointed out Canada's
paramount interest in cultivating the
trade OF the four hundred millions of
China and Japan, towards which she
had already accomplished so much by
establishing steamship connection. Aft
er dwelling upon the Imperial aspect
OF the cable proposal, Mr.. Mulock took
up the financial view, quoting in proof
of his assertion that no great burden
would be imposed on Canada, the esti-
mate of Mr.. Fleming that the first
years operation of the cable would
yield a surplus OF one hundred and
fourteen thousand one hundred and fif-
ty-seven pounds, and the fourth year :
working two hundred and forty-nine
thousand one hundred and forty-four
pounds. However, whether there was
profit or loss, the proposal in the res
olution involved Canada, which was
interested to the extent OF hye-
eighteenths. The board of manage
ment having been determined AT eight
members, Canada and Australasia had
agreed to forego fractional claims, and
10 give England three, 10 three for
Australia and two for Canada, While
the trade Of Canada and Australasia
had largely improved last year, thai
increase had accrued despite the pro
hibitory rates for cable communication
which was 80 essential 90 mOderl
methods, an ordinary message and 70
ply costing hfty dollars by the pres
ent roundabout route, What, there
fore, might not be expected IN the wa
of development when direct cOmmunl
cation Was established ana reasOnabl