PRESS MESSAGES AND THE CABLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1471, 23 February 1886, Page 3

PRESS MESSAGES AND THE CABLE.

The Postmaster-General has received from the Postmaster-General of New South Wales a cablegram covering one from the Agent General for that colony, in which it was stated the Cable Company can now see their way to make the promised reduction of Press rates to two shillings and eightpence at an early date, probably about April, provided the contributing colonies to the Darwin cable agreed that the benefit should be extended to the non-contributing colonies. The Company would reduce the rates to eight shillings per word and Government messages in proportion if the contributing colonies would extend the subsidies for six and a quarter years. The Company would also agree to the New Zealand Government’s terras for renewing the New Zealand cable subsidy. The New Zealand Government were asked toagree, as they now get all they wanted. The Postmaster-General sent the followin reply :—Feb. 19,1886. If our telegram received —I will submit it to the Cabinet as soon as possible. Meanwhile I may say it is uncertain if our Government will now renew the subsidy. I find the cable must have paid splendidly ; for the use of the cable from New Zealand to Sydney the Company.have averaged for the whole term £B6OO a year. Assuming there was an equal amount the other way. the average is £17,200, and with the subsidy, £24,600. The line, too, is improviogas tins year the receipts from New Zealand to Australia were over £IO,OOO ; with the same the other way,and subsidy ,tbe receipts can’t be much less than £30,000. When you consider the value of the cable this is enormous. The Agent-General cables that Preece has revised the specifications, and that the cost will be £170,000. By Queensland, a much cheaper, shorter and shallower route can be had, and the three colonies might join in procuring this cable. Before entertaining the new proposals, I recommend you to ascertain the cost of two through lines, one from Queensland to England, the other from Perth to Ceylon, Mauritius, Natal, the Cape and England, The colonies jointly constructing these could afford to charge three shillings a word and less for Press messages. Please send copy to the Premier of Queensland. l! ‘ (Signed) Julius Vogel. “ To Postmaster-General, Sydney.”