THE CABLE RATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1732, 5 January 1888, Page 3

THE CABLE RATES

— »+•. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) j Wuunoton, January 4. The Postmaster-General hat received a telegram from the Kastern Extension Company notifying au increase of rates of 8s 6i per ten words m addition to tbe terminal charges. The question of continning reduced preaa rates is still under consideration The Premier h«s replied that Government have no object ton to revert to the maximum laid down m Clause 11 of the contract, vis, 7s 64 for tbe first* ten and 9d every additional word ; but that if farther increased Government will consider the question of making a terminal charge. Wxlungton, January 5 The Premier has received a cable from Mr Pender re cable rates. Mr Ponder urges the claim of the Company to in* oreaaed returns and gives figur i pointing to the conclusion that the Company cannot obtain a moderately fair return oq their capital under a lower tariff than 10j for the first 10 words or an equivalent m subsidy. The Governmental considering what should be done. They are prepared to insist on terminal charge should the Company propose an extortionate rate but if the Utter can show that their position ie reasonable probably this would not be Insisted up. b| Latkb, The following additional corre'psndonoe re oable charges bas taken place :— London, December 31 — Bon. Ma job Atkinson, Premier, Wellington.- I have received your telegram of this date. 1 presume you mean 91 as stated m c'aane eleven not 6d for each additional word, but as already mentioned 6d la insufficient to give a fair return on tho outlay, and tbe Company have no alternative but to oharge 8* 6i over the New Zealand cable from January 1. We admit your right to make any terminal rate you please, but you already obarge 6d, and every addition to the tariff would only increase the public inoocveniecoe And further orippla the traffic To recnup the loss of subsidy we < require a tariff of 10 •hillings, but m order i to minimise the publio incunvenienoe as ' far its possible we saorifice Is 6d and < think your Government should make a < similar sacrifice — J. Fender. i Wellicgton, Jannary 5. — Chairman, Eastern Extension Company, London, — We collect for cable from January 1, 8s 6d for the first 10 words or less, and lOd for . every sddittonal word. The Government does not see ita way to redooo or abandon the present terminal obarge and holds itself free to open the question of terminal j rate, should it, upon further oonßlderation, be deemed necessary. — H. A. Atkinson.

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