1878. NEW ZEALAND. PRESS TELEGRAMS. (PAPERS RESPECTING ARRANGEMENTS AS TO "COLLECT" MESSAGES.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1878 Session I, F-07

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1878. NEW ZEALAND. PRESS TELEGRAMS. (PAPERS RESPECTING ARRANGEMENTS AS TO "COLLECT" MESSAGES.)

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Fisher with the leave of the House. No. 1. Messrs. Holt and McCarthy to the General Manager, Telegraph Department. Sir, — Press Telegraph Agency, Wellington, 6th August, 1877. We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, in which you inform us that the system of " collect" intercolonial telegrams will be abolished after the end of this month. We very earnestly request you will move the Hon. the Commissioner to relax this order in so far as our messages to and from Australia are concerned, and that they may be allowed to pass, as at present, as " collect" messages. You will recognize that we are in an entirely different position from any others—whether private individuals or newspaper proprietors. It is not with us only an occasional telegram, at perhaps long intervals, but, as you are aware, scarcely a day passes on which we do not receive or send at least one message from and to Sydney or Melbourne; and we assure you that if all our messages are to be prepaid, the accounts which will have to be kept, the adjustments, and transmission of money, &c, involve so much trouble and loss of time, that we greatly fear our Sydney friends may grow careless at times on looking after our requirements. We mean they may sometimes fail to send us such full and constant messages as we now receive. The system which you have been kind enough to allow for some time past has been of the utmost convenience to us and our Australian correspondents ; and we think we may confidently say that neither with them nor us has there been any trouble or annoyance in collecting payment for our messages. If it would be any inducement to the Government to permit the present arrangement with us to continue, we should be quite prepared to lodge in your hands whatever sum you may require to cover any possible risk. Once more begging very respectfully that the terms of your letter under reply may be reconsidered, We have, &c, Dr. Lemon, General Manager, Telegraph Department. Holt and McCarthy.

No. 2. Memorandum by Dr. Lemon. It was intimated by me verbally to the Press Agency, on the 11th October, 1877, in reply to their letter of 6th August, that the rule as to " collect" messages would be allowed to remaiu in force, so far as they were concerned ; and the cable authorities were instructed to that effect same date. C. Lemon, General Manager.

No. 3. Tayloe, Sydney, to the General Manager, Telegraph Department. (Telegram.) Wellington, December 12, 1877. News messages pass between Brett, Auckland, and Haynes, Sydney, representing evening papers. Would you extend to them the privilege of " collect," as with Holt, Reuter, and Cavour?* Dr. Lemon, Wellington. Taylor, Sydney. * Cypher word, meaning "Press Agency."

No. 4. Dr. Lemon to Mr. Lusher. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th December, 1877. Peess messages between Haynes, Sydney, and Brett, Auckland, may be accepted "collect" until further instructed. Acknowledge. Mr. Lusher, Auckland. q Lemoit

No. 5. Dr. Lemon to Mr. Capper. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th December, 1877. Collect messages will for the present be allowed to pass between Havnes, Sydney, and Brett Auckland. ' _' J •" * Mr. Capper, Wakapuaka. c Lemon _

No. 6. Dr. Lemon to Mr. Brett. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th December, 1877. Peess messages between yourself and Haynes, Sydney, will be accepted " collect" until further instructed. Mr. Brett, Auckland. c t jEMON _

No. 7. Dr. Lemon to Mr. Taylor. (Telegram.) Wellington, 17th December, 1877. News messages between Haynes, Sydney, and Brett, Auckland, may be accepted "collect" until further instructed. Mr. Taylor, La Perouse. C- Lemon. B 7 Authority: Geoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.— 1878. Price 3d. J

E.— 7.

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