15

F.—B

Canada's quota £555, and England's quota £555: total. £1,333. lam not including Australia in my request, because I realise that the Commonwealth Government could properly reply that any contribution they gave would be open to the objection that they were assisting one Australian association to compete with another Australian association. Is it too much to ask, under all the circumstances of this unique position, that you will make one with England and Canada, as other partners in the Pacific cable deficiency, to guarantee a refund of my company's cable quota for the first year of the new service, in emancipation of the Press '( T have, Sec., Tims. Temperley, Manager. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward. I'rime Minister, New Zealand. I I.C. Press 10/31. | No. 24. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister Wellington, to the Manager, Independent Press Cable Association, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 25th January, 1910. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 4th ultimo inquiring whether the New Zealand Government is prepared to assist in the establishing of a Press service from Canada, and England to Australia, the Pacific cable being used Eor the purpose, and to your message of the 11th instant, asking for a reply; and to confirm my telegram of the 18th instant expressing regret that I cannot do anything in the matter at present. I have, &c, Thomas Temperley, Esq., Independent Press Cable Association. Sydney. J. G. Wakd. [P.C. Press 10/29.] No. 25. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 28th January, 1910. Owing to reductions in rates made by Pacific Cable Board on Press messages between United Kingdom and Australasia last July, application has been made to Pacific Cable Board to revise rates of Press messages between Australasia and Canada. Pacific Cable Board are prepared reduie by half existing charges, with proviso that Commonwealth and Dominion Governments will lso agree to allow them advantage of reduced terminal charges granted last July to United Kingdom Press messages. Telegraph if you approve or not, bo thai new tariff may lie notified without delay. [P.C. Press 10/6.] No. 26. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth February, 1910. New Zealand agrees reduction Press message charges granted July last between United Kingdom and Australasia being extended messages between New Zealand and Canada. [P.C. Press 10/11.1 No. 27. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager, Independent Press Cable Association, Sydney. Sir,— General Post Office. Wellington, 28th February, 1910. I have the honour, by direction of the Right Hon. the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo, asking that the New Zealand Government refund to your association £222, the sum by which you estimate that the deficiency payable by this Dominion on the working of the Pacific cable will be reduced as a result of the establishing of your Press service from Canada and England to Australia ; and, in reply, to say that ii is regretted the request cannot be complied with. The reasons which led the Postmaster-General to decline to accede to your application of the 4th December for a contribution towards the cost of the service still hold good. I have. &c, D. Robertson. Secretary. Thos. Temperley. Esq., Independent Press Cable Association of Australasia (Limited), 17 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. [P.C. Press 10/32.]