CHEAPER CABLES SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 5

CHEAPER CABLES SCHEME.

BRITISH OBJECTIONS. THE CONSENT OF FOREIGN POWERS NECESSARY. SIR. W. HALL-JONES PROTESTS By Telegraph—Press Association— Conyneht London, September 8. . Mr. Batendale, London manager of the Pacific Cable Board, says tie Canadian line has been- considerably improved so far as . accuracy is concerned, but that the British Post Office authorities have declined-to sanction deferred rates, on the ground that they have not been appointed by the Inter? national Telegraphic Convention. : A MONSTROUS PROPOSITION. SIR W. HALL-JONES INTER- ; VIEWED. /".' (Rec. September 9, 11.5 .p.m.) London, September 9. Sir W.\ Hall-Jones, High Commis-' sioner. for New Zealand, /when interviewed on the : question- of cheaper cable rates, said it was. a monstrous proposition that Great Britain and the Dominions were unable to reduce the charges on ah -All-British messages over which were sent throughout under our own flag—without the consent of, foreign Powers. '..■

■The consent of the signatories:of the Lisbon Convention, he contended, : was :only necessary in international matters affecting foreign interests and messages passing through ..' foreign countries. '. .'■-■■-. -, : ' .' ■'. .'-.'"'■'.-■

The denial of, deferred rates to code messages was undesirable, as it; was almost impossible .accurately to define what plain language in a cablegram meant. The better plan would be-the reduction. of. the ordinary charge ''.- to eightpence a wordj and the imposition of double /rates for urgent messages. Thus, he thought,: iwould the best results be secured for the Pacific cable.-