CABLE CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 114, 15 May 1902, Page 5

CABLE CHARGES.

(Received 1.11 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, this day,

Eiual arrangements to establish uniform charges throughout Australia on cable messages sent between the Commonwealth and Europe have been completed by Mr Drake, the Federal Postmaster - General. The Eastern Extension Cable Company's rates for ordinary messages are fixed at 2/7 per word, and fivepence as the Commonwealth terminal rate. Government messages are 1/8, terminal rate fourpence. Press messages are to be tenpence, with a terminal rate of twopence. In other words, the rates will be 3/, 2/ and 1/ a word, respectively. This is only a temporary arrangement, pending the proposed Federal agreement. These new, rates and the rate of 4 id between New Zealand and.Australia, v."!! hold good as from June Ist nex..

(Received 9.37 a.m

MELBOURNE, t

In connection with the new cubic rates, no agreement has been sealed or signed, so that should the Eastern Extension Cable Company and the Pacific Cable Board fail to come to terms as to a scheme to avoid unfair competition, the old rates may be reverted to. It is also stated that if Mr Barton cannot arrange a satisfactory agreement between the Commonwealth and the Eastern- Co., the question will be reopened ou that account. It is understood the Pacific Co. make several proposals to the Eastern to avoid a war of rates, the most important being- tlie pooling- of receipts over certain lines. The whole matter will be debated at the London conference.