308 



SIR CHARLES BRUCE^ G.C.M.G.^ ON 



Nature has called attention to the imperial importance of a 

 knowledge of meteorology as an aid to security of navigation 

 and sea-supremacy, and has pointed out that the success of the 

 work in Mauritius should stimulate farther endeavour and the 

 provision of other stations. Dr. Meldrum's work was carried 

 on for many years by Mr. J. F. Claxton, who has recently been 

 appointed Director of the Hong Kong Observatory. His 

 association with the Hong Kong University promises to be of 

 substantial advantage to the promotion of the study of meteor- 

 ology at that station. 



Imperial Communications hy Post and Telegraph. 



Problems of transport and the security of navigation lead 

 naturally to a consideration of the problem of imperial communi- 

 cation by postal and telegraphic systems. The first year of the 

 reign of Queen Victoria witnessed the commencement of a 

 popular movement towards a goal which was only recently 

 reached. In the year 1837 Sir Kowland Hill first advocated a 

 low uniform rate of postage between all places in the British 

 Isles, irrespective of distance, and after a vigorous contest in 

 Parliament a uniform penny postage rate came into force in 

 January, 1840. After half a century of struggle, in 1890 a 

 uniform rate of 2\d. to all parts of the Empire was instituted, 

 and within the next ten years reduced to a uniform rate of one 

 penny to all parts of the Empire except Australasia and the 

 Cape. The uniform penny rate has now been extended to all parts 

 of the Empire as well as to the United States of America. The 

 names of two men will ever be associated with this economic 

 reform — those of Mr. Henniker Heaton and Mr. Joseph 

 Chamberlain. Mr. Henniker Heaton's advocacy of cheap post- 

 age was from the first associated with the advocacy of cheap 

 telegrams, but it was not till 1908 that he definitely advocated a 

 system of penny-a-word telegrams throughout the Empire, 

 Without discussing the possibility of an early realisation of this 

 proposal, a few words must be said in illustration of the interests 

 of the Empire in ocean telegraphy and cheap telegrams. It has 

 been justly declared that " submarine lines are the true nerves 

 of the Empire ; they are the nerves by which all the colonies 

 are brought into simultaneous action with ourselves." 



The interests of the Empire are fourfold ; domestic interests, 

 commercial interests, interests connected with the security of 

 navigation and the supreme interest of defence. The true 

 temper of Empire, while conscious of the claims of commerce. 



