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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 572, 2 March 1878, Page 2

We have frequently called attention to the injustice being suffered by evening newspapers throughout the Colony in consequence of the heavy telegraph tariff which is imposed upon them. except those to whom the honour of

having introduced the idea of excessive ■wire charges in the case of evening newspapers, ever could understand why they should be oppressed by a burden at least three times as heavy as that imposed upon morning papers. The custom, like many others of a similar nature, is peculiar to New Zealand. In Victoria messages of 500 words, sent between 8.30 a.m. and C p.m. cost 7s. as against 14s 91. in New Zealand. The tariffs are as follows :—Morning papers (for messages wired at night), Gd. for the first 25 words, and every successive 25 words 3d Evenpapers (for messages wired during the day) 200 words at the above rates ; after that number, Gd. for the first 10 words and a halfpenny for every successive word. It will thus be seen that for those evening newspapers that are compelled to g" considerably beyond the first 200 words the tariff is very severe and unfair. 1000 words costing LI las. Bd. as against 10s. 3d., the charge to the morning papers. In Victoria, after the first 100 words, 6d. is charged for every successive 50 words sent during the daytime to evening papers; But, then, the time the tariff was fixed in Victoria we fancy that there could not have been any Ministerial owners of morning newspapers, who allowed their self-interest t< overrule their duty to those whom the} professed to represent. Our contemporary, the Dunedin Stat; in writing on the same question, has stated that 500 words sent during the day-time for evening papers would only cost ss. Tin writer in the Star is evidently under tin impression that evening papers are allowed 500 words at morning nowspapei rates instead of 200, the charge for tin first-mentioned number of words being as already stated, 14s. \)d. Now thai those in power are not depending for theit bread and butter upon their receipts fron a struggling morning newspaper, as \v:i> rise ease with Sir Jrur.s Vogel, who waiproprietor of the Auckland Southern Crosi when the tariffs were fixed, we may Imp. before long to receive something liki justice in the matter of newspaper telc-

gram charges