CABLE RATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2561, 23 July 1909, Page 5

CABLE RATES.

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD CONCESSIONS.

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S COMMUNICATION.

United Press Association—Copyright MELBOURNE, July 22.

The Postmaster-General has received a reply from the Pacific Cable Board, agreeing to a reduction in. the price of press cablegrams from Is to 9d per w'ord from August Ist. The request of the Eastern Extension Company ‘or a similar reduction will be agreed, to. Referring to the reduction, the Post-master-General said it would be base ingratitude if the newspapers did not now support the Pacific cable. Had it not been for the Pacific cable, users would not have the concessions they now enjoy.' Surely the Pacific must get some of the increased business which must come from the reductions. If not, where'was the encouragement for the Board to make further concessions? H© did not think the Pacific claims to public support had been adequately recognised, seeing that the annual deficiency was so great. He added : “We do- not wish-, to unduly compete with other cables, or to in any way unduly -press the claims of the Pacific, but certainly we want a, fair share of business. The Pacific is entitled to this from a patriotic standpoint.” The Postmaster-General states that before agreeing to the (cable concessions he communicated, with the representa-: tives of the Australian Press Association. He brought Under its attention the proposal, and expressed the hope that if the concessions were granted and the rates reduced the Pacific cable would have a share in the increased business. No bargain was made, nor ivas any explicit assurance given on the subject. Jt was merely stated that if a reduction "were made the Association-' would, of course, have to consider whether it would be use the Pacific caßTe to advantage.