CABLE RATES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1975, 4 February 1914, Page 8

CABLE RATES

MINISTER.FAVOURS REDUCTIONS. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday on the subject of cable rates the Hon. R. H. Rhodes .said that ho was in entire' sympathy with the recommendation of the Dominion Trade Commission (that reductions should he effected wherbver possible. He conferred on the subject with tho members of "the Commission when they were in New Zealand and so did Mr. W. R. Morris, the official head of the Post and Telegraph Department. M|iv Rhodes has also communicated with the Pacific Cablo Board, through the High Commissioner, suggesting that reductions should bo made where possible. At present the New Zealand Government is meeting an annual loss of about £2000 incurred in connection with tho cost, of cable communications, but the Postmaster-Generalis of opinion that if rates were reduced it would encourage an increased use of the cables and the loss might be wiped out in a few years. His opinion is supported by the increasing popularity of deferred and weekend cables. These methods of communi-' cation are now being 4 very freely' patronised. While there is Hd definite prospect, of a reduction, in cable rates in tho, immediate future, the PostmasterGeneralis strongly in favour of a movement in that direction and will lose no opportunity of effecting reductions as opportunity serves. The proposal to establish' a State-owned Atlantic cablo does not seem te be making much headway. All the colonial Governments concerned strongly champion the proposal, but it does not find favour in Great Britain. •* .