CYPHER TELEGRAMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1584, 18 March 1879, Page 4

CYPHER TELEGRAMS.

For the information of the large section of the public interested in the question of the charges for telegraphic messages to Europe, we (Melbourne “Argus”) are requested to give publicity to the following letter, which has been received by the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce from the Deputy-Postmaster General: — Post Office and Telegraph Department, Ist March, 1879. Sir. —With reference to tbe question recently brought under the notice of the Hon. the Post-master-General respecting cypher rates being charged for cable messages to Europe containing groups of figures, I am directed by Mr Patterson to inform you that a telegram was despatched to Mr Knevitt, agent of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, strongly urging that the course formerly allowed with regard to the telegrams referred to should be continued until an opportunity was afforded to the persons concerned to arrange other codes, or until the meeting of the international conference, to bo held in Jnne next, and asking that it might bo ascertained if any modification of the recent practice would be sanctioned, so that telegrams from Anstralia may at least be sent under as favorable conditions as telegrams are forwarded from England. The Postmaster-General is nojv informed that Mr Knevitt has communicated with the directors in London, and has received a reply

from Sir James Anderson to the effect that the telegraph companies have been called upon by the Governments to carry out the rules of the convention. . The companies accept no messages at single rates containing figures unless the figures are declared by sender to be dates or quotations, and the colonies are only asked to adopt the same rule for homeward traffic as is applied to outward traffic. I am to add that Mr Knevitt proposes to visit Melbourne shortly, when an opportunity will bo presented for entering further upon the consideration of this matter I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant T. W. Jackson. Deputy Postmaster-General.