THE CABLE AND POSTAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5444, 7 September 1878, Page 3

THE CABLE AND POSTAL CONFERENCE.

(From the Melbourne Leader, 3lst August.) It ia to be feared that nothing satisfactory will result from the negotiations which have been carried on between the Chief Secretary ■and the Postmaster and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Cable Company with reference to the reduction of the cost of the transmission of telegrams between the colonies and Europe. Colonel Glover, on August 22, received a telegram, in reply to a message sent by him a few days since, asking if the company would agree to the demands made by Mr. Berry, Mr, Morgan, and Mr. Burns, on behalf of the colonics, for a reduction of 75 pbr cent, in tho charge for Press messages, and of 50 per cent, in the charge for Government messages, newspapers (intercolonial and otherwise) to have power of combining, in .order to defray the cost of obtaining European intelligence. From this reply it appears that the company are determined not to make the concession asked for with regard to tho combination of the journals ; and as probably every means of bringing about an understanding has been exhausted, there is little hope of any arrangement for the cheapening of tho coat of telegrams being effected. Mr. Berry, on receiving tho information of the company’s decision upon \ the matter, telegraphed to Mr. Burns, at Albury, but he concurred in the determination not to waive any portion of the demands made on behalf of the colonies. As a last effort Mr. Berry requested Colonel Glover to ascertain whether the company would agree to permit combinations of all the papers in each celony separately, and a telegram asking for information upon that point was yesterday despatched to London., It is by no means probable, however, that that limited concession would bo deemed acceptable oven in Victoria. The Chief Secretary telegraphed to Mr. Burns to ascertain his views of tho modification suggested by him. The telegram found Mr. Burns at Albury, and he at once wired back to Mr. Berry that ho could not accept tho oomprosiso, so that even if the directors of the company agree to tho conditions of the contract with this alteration, New South Wales will not fall in with tho arrangement. On the 17th instant Mr. Forster , (tho, A gent- General for New South Wales), Sir Julius Vogel (the Agent-General for New Zealand)* nnd Captain Jopp'had an interview with tho Secretory of State for the Colonies respecting the pro-

posed new'postal'arrangements. Wo understand, , says the Sydney Echo, that the Hon. Michael Fitzpatrick, the Colonial Secretary, has received a telegram from Mr. Forster, in which it is intimated that the Home Government havo expressed their intention to wait the opinion of the colonies before taking; decided action in the matter.