THE NEW TELEGRAPH ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2690, 2 December 1878, Page 2

THE NEW TELEGRAPH ASSOCIATION.

IN the " Herald " of Saturday, under the heading "English Cablegrams," appears one of the most remarkable rigmaroles we have seen, even in the columns of our contemporary. The writer informs "our readers" that there has been in existence for some time "a very singular and profitable monopoly," which "through securing the exclusive right to Reuters cable messages from London, as well as the special messages to the "Sydney Morning Herald " and " Melbourne Argus," which were purchased at a low figure, and retailed to the newspapers of this colony at a large profit, has long defied competition, neglected complaints, and pocketed a very handsome income." The article then goes on to say that Mr Collins, Reuters general agent, has resolved to supply any papers in New Zealand directly—and taking advantage of this, a new association has been formed in opposition to Messrs Holt and McCarthy's firm, who are, it is alleged, now only to receive cablegrams in the same way as their opponents. The outcome of it all is to be that under the new Association " the payment for these messages will be made, not at so much per word, which is a premium upon bogus ' filling in,' but by an annual fixed sum, which will include all charges except the local wire charges in New Zealand. The annual contribution will be fixed upon alow scale, and, considering the increase in the messages which has been promised, it is estimated that a reduction of fully 25 per cent, will be effected upon present rates." What all this has to do with " Herald" readers we cannot pretend to say. Our contemporary is not usually so communicative touching private business affairs, and probably the stimulus on the present occasion is a desire to put the best face it can on the failure of what would, if perpetrated, have been the biggest job and monopoly ever attempted in New Zealand, In the first place, it must be observed, that Messrs Holt and McCarthy have never exercised a monopoly. The telegrams procured by them on behalf of the whole press were impartially open to all subscribers upon the most reasonable terms ; and in addition, the papers might procure as much special telegraphic matter as they chose. This did not suit several newspapers. On the one hand_they were too parsimonious to employ special correspondents, as the Star has continuously done, and on the other hand|they wished to get special advantages from the Agency to the detriment of other papers. Failing r this with , Messrs • Holt and McCarthy, they endeavoured by political r scheming to procure privileges in the telegraph department, denied to other journals —the right in fact of using this public office some hours after it was closed to

i everyone else. There they were again thwarted, the' Government making a contract with them,, but at the> same time, making another contract, upon'exactly the same terms, with Messrs#Holt\and McCarthy. The next move was to send an emissary over to Sydney and Melbourne for the purpose of buying the right to the cablegrams, to be used exclusively by these two or three .would-be monopolists. For it should be observed that these papers, unlike Holt and McCarthy absolutely refusedj'at that time, to supply others in the same town. The Press Agency and its supporters, however, wei c too active for them in Australia, and bid higher. The consequence is that the cost of cable messages has gone up very considerably, the extra profit going into Australian instead of New Zealand . pockets, but the morning paper combination -was outbid and outwitted. They then opened up negotiations with the Stab, Special agent in Sydney, for the purpose of buying him over. Being kept posted up in all their movements, we were able to upset the scheme again. The whole thing having thus ended in a miserable sham, the original design defeated it is hoped now to tempt into the abortion of an association, those newspapers which before were to be shut out, with the ultimate intention, we presume, of playing fast and loose with them after the Press Agency is got out of the field. It is hardly necessary to say that the independent sections of jthe press are not such tools as to walk into the trap. The giant in labour has brought forth a miserable mouse, which within a very short time from its birth will probably be devoured by the portly cat in the form of the Press Agency. That the " Herald" is calculating without its host even in the small privileges which the article referred to claims, is pretty conclusively shown by the following telegram from our correspondent in Wellington:— WELLINGTON, Saturday. Mr Horton of the Herald is telegraphing round tho colony that the Press Agency are circulating false reports that they have been appointed Reuters agents for cable new rs and adding that he. has arranged with Mr Collins, Reuters managing man, that the new agency will be supplied with cable news as well as the Press Agency. Mr Horton must be under a misapprehension, because I have seen the original telegram from Melbourne, and a letter from Mr Holt to Mr McCarthy, confirming the matter. The agreement was signed last Monday. Mr Horton is angry because yesterday he telegraphed to the Agency that after the end of the year ho would not require nows of any kind from them. Mr Horton appears to have been euchred altogether, both in his attempt to kill the Agency and secure for his paper the Stab's specials.