59

A.—4

The Second Imperial Press Conference, which met in Canada last year, fully considered this question. The Conference, which included the proprietorsjand editors of leading newspapers published in all parts of the Empire, stated as its considered and unanimous opinion " that the full utility of cable and wireless communications, as a factor in educating public opinion, and in maintaining a good understanding between all peoples of the Empire, will not be attained until rates are reduced to a basic charge of Id. per word for Press messages throughout the whole British Empire." The Conference unanimously resolved also that any assistance given to the Press for the encouragement of a wider dissemination of news should be given in the form of cheaper Press rates, and not in the form of a subsidized news service. The Empire Press Union, 71 Fleet Street, E.G. 4., 11th June, 1921. (/;.) Supplementary Memorandum. Inland Press Telegraph, Rates should be available to Dominions Correspondents in Great Britain. Complaint has been made of the fact that Post Office regulations debar representatives of Dominion, newspapers in this country from using the telegraph at Press rates when telegraphing news to the London office of their journals, whence it is to be cabled overseas. This disability has for some years been felt to be a grievance, and one obstacle to Imperial communications which could easily be removed. From the point of view of Post Office revenue —the only point of view from which the matter has hitherto been officially considered the result of such a concession would seem to be quite insignificant. It might possibly lead to a small increase of revenue by encouraging use of the telegraph. Instances of Cable Delays. The Times of Ceylon (Colombo), on 29th June, telegraphed to the London office of the newspaper as follows : " News telegrams five days late. Wire ' Urgent' any very interesting items." The London, editor of Argus South African Newspapers (Limited)— representing a large group of the leading newspapers of South Africa —states that in June ordinary Press messages took six days in transit to South Africa. He says, " This great delay, at a time when there was so much news of vital importance to all the Dominions, involved the use of many full-rate messages at half a crown a word, and. sometimes even at the ' triple rate 'of 6s. per word. The latter rate was at one time unheard of for Press work except for brief reports of exceptionally important events. It now has to be used regularly for ordinary information." Imperial Wireless System. Yesterday (12th July) the Council of the Empire Press Union unanimously adopted the following resolution : — " That this Council is deeply convinced of the necessity of combining Government support with private enterprise and competitive business administration in any world-wide British wireless system ; and urges all Governments within the Empire to co-operate on concerted lines without further loss of time to. secure important business and political advantages that will otherwise be obtained by other enterprises. " That copies of this resolution be sent to the Dominions, Prime Ministers and the Indian representatives at present in London ; and to the overseas sections of the Empire Press Union for further urgent action in their respective countries." Deferred Press Rates. The recent announcement that deferred Press rates to Canada and Australia are to be restored is highly appreciated. It is feared, however, that in the present congested condition of the cables the delay in the case of deferred messages may make their use impossible. It has been urgently represented by the newspapers concerned that a deferred Press rate should be made available to and from South Africa and India, if the traffic conditions, and the method of handling such messages, do not involve excessive delay. The Empire Press Union, 71 Fleet Street, E.C. 4., v 11th June, 1921.