THE INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1266, 9 April 1878, Page 3

THE INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE.

The announcement (pays the "Australasian") that in July next an international telegraphic conference is to he held in London, suggests the question whether the Australasian colonies ought not—collectively, iC not individually—to be represented on an occusion so fraught with interest to themselves r At the conference held at St. Petersburg Borne years Ego, they were not represented, although we believe that British India was, It was then felt that the interests of tins portion of the world were likely to suffer from the fact; that tbecoloi ks could not make their vi"ws felt, except, through the influence of the British Gorermncnt, and Sir Julius A r ogel, the then Premier ol Nov Zealand, and Mr 0. Todd, tin- superintendent of South Australia, both actively idvocated the right of the colonies to he repr sentfd on such occasions No resu h was, I owever, arrived at, but the question gain a sumes considerable import ice at the piesen time, more particularly as there i- reason to believe that by means of these conferences very considerable pressu can be zeroise I upon the cable companies communienlinj with India and Aiisfnd sia. Th prii ei] il object of the approach big con fere ice is i.o secure the uni versal eduction and shnplificalion of intei'nationui telegraph oharg s, which are now in mam instances absurdly high. Resolutions will bo submitted by th,e British Government

advocating not only a general reduction of international charges, but also the adoption of the pure "word tariff," which already regulates the intercourse with non-European countries. There is every probability of the leading states cordially approving of these reforms, which will secure an extraordinary reduction of existing charges. Messages not exceeding ten words will be sent from any country in Europe to any other country for 2a, whereas at present the cost is often more than treble that amount for even the briefest telegram. In the event, of submarine cables being called into requisition, a slight additional charge will be imposed, but the extra outlay will be very little. The extent to which these distant colonies will benefit by these reductions is not easily estimated, but it will probably be very considerable, and in view of the proposed duplication of the cable and the consequent anticipated increase of telegraphic business with Europe, it certainly behoves the Governments of Australasia to ascertain that their interests will be thoroughly protected.