The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 1905. THE TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7950, 13 October 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 1905. THE TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE.

' Hectlit events have brought the tehe : graphic service into peculiar prominence, Hinl it is not surprising to I'md 1 ihat the (iovetninent consider it n.*- • cessary lo amend the exist ins 'ci;is- ■ lation dealing with electric telegraph ! lines and the regulations connected Mhi v VewiU». Moteover, i\ was siU i to iiu'i't lhe new conditions con--1 seipicnt on wireless telegraphy liavj ing passed iit experimental iitagcs j end b.coi.ie an estaldislud institu [ lion. A Hill was laid before the I House in the early part of the week ! containing importam anuminimis to • the Klectnc l.ims Act, and c ir'crj ling on lhe (iovirnnient considerable powers it, coniuction with the adi ministration of cable, telegraphic and wireless telegraphy services. It proI vidct that the (iovernor may, at any | iimi-, assume and main possession I of any cable station in New Zealand, end nature the exclusive use ei the np.-rainr* and other persons emplovi ,| Iheie, ce.nipinsalii n to be paid for any damage done while the (ion rnnient is in occupation. The (invernoi' is also t inpown'ed to do wli.u he ""Ills in c, ssary for 11,;■ fe.llcwiiiL, Purposes : —( a) Forming and enforcing I 'Ce iiie for file eii'Ctive censor nig, re gula I ion, control. ( ,r |ireliibit- ! ing of telegraphic messages in time !o. war, oi when, in the opinion of >b# I (iovcrnoi, danger to the Slate is apj l'i In-ii-led , (b) e.wipei'atiiig with the i J i-d (iuti riiniriii or the (lovernl •*"( in "I any I"> r11 ish possission in ji'»i'"iig and enforcing a „y sl ,eh _ i h- llli ■. Anyone v.lio vi'd.it.s or fa-j ! s i to conforie. to any sucn sclienie comjiuits acrime punishable i n imJictin nt by a fine not exceeding ifillh, I with or withoui imprisnnnieiit for a >t | p r,(;d not exceeding seven years. | Tucsc provisions applv also to wire- | less lelegrajihy stations. It will pt,,. ! I,ably l,e gen,r..||y agicid I hat these

j !:(;>,( i s ai-.i provisions are not only j inriSiary, but expedient, in vuw of j |> ssibie ton Ihal may aris.'. I'lbc n-mainiiijr. provisions (,f tlic Hill jarc iliru'Kd lo sieuring tlit- inmost sccucy of tlit' st'ivice, ami certainly, , '' RAugi'il by Ilir ainounl of tin' ma.\inmm penalty for a breach of insulations (£51111), ihcre j s • reason tt> expect thai 1 Ik- measure | "ill accomplish the ob,iecl in view. An impot taut amendment is ihat ~ which allows telegrams to hi* produced in Ihe ease of an indictment or infoiiiialii.il where the Commissioner is satisfied that such produc;ion is necessary in the interests of justice. maximum p;nalty f r improperly iliuilniiip; a telegram is increased to £">011, of three yi'a ls imprisonment Willi hard lalmur, and e\ery person who lnipropei ly receives or publishes the contents or purport of any telegram which lias hceii improperly divulged is liable lo the same punishment There is no question as lo the drastic nature of this provision. l)iil i' il'vs still further, ami strikes at the iiw)igat»rs of <rfleiices liy enacting that anyone who s.l c.'.s or endeavours to procure any oilier person tn commit an of(i nee anainst Ihe principal Act, or aids, abets, counsels or prolines ihe commission of any such offence, or fiuplojs or authorises any other person lo do anything which is as oiI'ence against Ihe principal Act. is liable to the same puiiishmc lit as U he hi.il bimsi'lf comniilted the oflei.r\ Tli 11 this measure is instilled will probably be the verdict of the ciinimuniiv. who. on the whole, Hilly recognise llie extreme nnponai.ee of ahsoluie speiecy in ihe telei;i,i|>hic senic.-, |( niay he urgid th it heavy penalties will nol pieveiil, hill, even so, Ihev certainly aei as a powerful deterrent, and Would in most eases prevent the commission of a bleach. There can lr no grounds for irit; thai any slur is cast on Ihe excellent stall which now series the public. The measure is intended lo nieel and ileal With possible weal; units, and Ihere who frmpl this class astrav. Ii i s 'emedv that can he provided.