PRESS MESSAGES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 151, 22 July 1909, Page 2

PRESS MESSAGES

QUESTIONS IX THE FEDERAL SENATE. Eiy Cable.—Press Association.— Copyrigi Received 21, 11.30 p.m. Melbourne, July 21. In the Senate, Senator Pearce asked whether the Government had agreed to a reduction of the land charges on press cables, and whether the daily press, to which the concession was made, had given a guarantee to have all messages sent over the Pacific line and not over the Eastern Extension line. He asked if it were not a fact that messages were despatched over the latter, Seeing that the daily press bad a monopoly, he asked would the Government see that in any agreement the country newspapers, which were the customers of the syndicate, would also receive concession:; '!

Mr. Pearce was asked to give notice of the questious. In reference to a recent statement in a business circular that press cables, wero obtained through one channel only and which in restraint of trade forbids a paper to receive or publish independent cables, the Attorney-General said the statement did not allege they were facts. If they were proved to 1)6 facts, they would justify prosecution. He added that if there were facts available from any source calling for an enquiry, full consideration would be given.