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No. 34.

The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Acting Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 30th June, 1909. Your letter 6th October, also suggestion Press Conference : Pacific Board has decided to reduce Press messages to New Zealand to 9d. per word, subject to New Zealand charge being reduced from one penny to halfpenny per word. To operate as soon as necessary notice given in accordance with Convention. Kindly say if you approve. Similar proposal will be made Australia. Advise immediate acceptance. [P.C. Press. 09/33.] _________________________ No. 35. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir,— Melbourne, 16th July, 1909. I have the honour to inform you that, subject to the British, the Indian, and the Colonial Governments making a pro rata reduction in their terminal charges, the Eastern Extension and the associated companies have decided to reduce the rates for Press messages between Great Britain, India, Australasia, and South Africa to 9d. per word from the Ist August next. I therefore beg to ask what reduction your Government is prepared to make in its terminal rate for international Press messages. I have, &c, W. Warren, Manager in Australasia. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [P.C. Press. 09/49.] No. 36. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th July, 1909. New Zealand agrees reduction Press messages to New Zealand to ninepence. Terminal charge reduced penny to halfpenny. P.C. Press, 09/31.] _________________________ No. 37. The Director, International Bureau of the Telegraph Union, Berne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram). Berne, 21st July, 1909. Pacific Cable Board notifies reduction to 95 centimes per word in the rate for Press telegrams exchanged between Great Britain and Australia via Pacific, dating from Ist August next. [P.C. Press, 09/47.] _______________________ No. 38. The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) London. 21st July. 1909. 11 a v i: notified Berne reduced Press rate ninepence Australia and New Zealand effective from first August. Board's transit rate, twopence halfpenny New Zealand, twopence Australia ; terminal rate, New Zealand halfpenny, Australia penny. [P.C. Press, 09/44.| _________________ No. 39. The Hon. the Acting Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd July, 1909. Board announced reduction New Zealand terminal rate to halfpenny to Berne first August. Wish you to formally confirm. Reply. [P.C. Press, 09/40.] _________________________ No. 40. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 22nd July, 1909. Board advises fifty per cent, reduction their share of Press rate intended apply all Press traffic to or from New Zealand except intercolonial. No decision yet arrived at as regards Fiji. Kindly confirm that reduction New Zealand terminal rate applies to Canada and America. [P.C. Press, 09/48.]

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