F.—B

29

While the rates charged for ordinary commercial telegrams in code may be capable of further reduction, it must be recognized that, owing to the great power of compression afforded by the present very liberal code regulations, the rates fixed by the tariff are very largely reduced when regard is had to the number of words of which the meaning is actually conveyed. On the other hand, there are large sections of the community who are compelled, owing to the circumstances in which their telegrams are necessarily sent, to use plain language, and who are therefore practically debarred from deriving any benefit from arrangements which are intended in theory to be open equally to all users of the international telegraph system. These considerations led the Postmaster-General to associate himself with a scheme suggested some time ago by the Post-master-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, supported by the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Postmaster-General of Canada, and elaborated by the Pacific Cable Board, for the introduction of a reduced rate for telegrams in plain language, on the condition that telegrams accepted at the reduced rate will be liable to be deferred in favour of telegrams paid for at the ordinary tariff. The object of the scheme is to recognize the equitable claims of the sections of the public on whom the high charge for the cable service presses with undue severity,, and, in doing so, to encourage them to make a more extensive use of the telegraph. The scheme has been actively pursued by the Postmaster-General, and met with the approval of the principal cable companies, and it is now forming the subject of negotiations with certain of the Government administrations concerned. The Postmaster-General hopes that these negotiations will soon be brought to a successful issue, so that what he regards as a valuable reform may shortly be introduced. Apart altogether from the rates which it might be proper to charge for ordinary or deferred (plain language) telegrams, the Postmaster-General thinks that in the public interest the cable companies might well be pressed to concede further substantial reductions in the rates for Press telegrams, and he proposes to use his influence in this direction as soon as it is possible to do so without jeopardizing the success of the other negotiations. General Post Office, London, 24th February, 1911.

No. 54. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd August, 1911. With reference to my despatch of the 2nd March, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copies of two resolutions passed by the Imperial Conference relative to the questions of the reduction of cable rates throughout the Empire and the laying of a State-owned cable between England and Canada. I have to observe that the views of His Majesty's Government on these questions were made sufficiently clear by the Postmaster-General in the course of the Conference discussions. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. L. Harcourt. [P.O. 11/3678.]

Enclosure 1 in No. 54. Imperial Conference Resolution. XIV. Cheaper Cable Rates (15th June, 1911). That, in view of the social and commercial advantages which would result from increased facilities for intercommunication between her dependencies and Great Britain, it is desirable that all possible means be taken to secure a reduction of cable rates throughout the Empire.

Enclosure 2 in No. 54. Imperial Conference Resolution. XV. State-owned Atlantic Cable (15th June, 1911). That, in the event of considerable reductions in transatlantic cable rates not being effected in the near future, it is desirable that the laying of a State-owned cable between England and Canada be considered by a subsidiary Conference.

No. 55. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., (Memorandum.) 22nd December, 1911. Referring to my memorandum of the Ist September last [not printed], and to your acknowledgment of the 19th October [not printed], I have now the honour to enclose herein two copies of an address by Mr. Charles Bright before the London Chamber of Commerce on " The Atlantic Cable Position and its Moral," which will no doubt be of interest to the Post and Telegraph Department. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Wμ. Hall-Jones. [Tel. 11/788.1