§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received protests from the Canadian and New Zealand Governments against the concessions recently granted to the Eastern Extension Company in Australia as being likely to militate seriously against the financial success of the Pacific Cable in which the Imperial, the Canadian, and the Australasian Governments are joint partners; whether, in view of these protests, it would still be possible to revoke the concessions and prevent any further complications of a like character; and whether he has received a reply to his message to the Australian Governments on the subject.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have received protests of the nature described, from Canada and New Zealand. I am informed by the Government of New South Wales that no arrangement has yet been concluded with the Eastern Extension Company, though it is aware that the decision of the recent conference of Premiers was generally favourable to the proposals of the company.