PRESS CABLE RATES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 14

PRESS CABLE RATES.

REQUEST FOR REDUCTION,

(BT CABLE—PRE 8 3 ASSOCIATION—COPTBIOHT)

(beuteb'B telfgeams.)

(Received NovemTber 26th, 8.25 p.m.)

Noveinber 25.

A deputation of the Empire Press Union, including Lord Burnham, Sir Hugh Denison, Sir Robert Donald, Sir Roderick .Tones, Mr Darbyshire, Mr Guy Innes, and; Mr Tonkin, urged the Pacific Cable Board to arrange a reduction in the Press rate for messages to Australia and New Zealand.

Lord Burnham, Sir Hugh Denison, and Mr Darbyshiro, presented the deputation's case. Lord Burnham said the deputation embraced all branches of the Press, and represented the public opinion of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

The deputation represented 1 that the facilities for the exchange by cable of Empire news were inadequate, and that Empire Press traffic was a matter of public convenience and a means by which dwellers everywhere in. the British Empire could' appreciate one another's interests; hence the facilities should be substantially improved. It was urged that the Board should reconsider its decision to , maintain tjie Press rate at the existing level, and it was hoped the Board would redluce the Press rate proportionately with the forthcoming reduction in ordinary • deferred and ordinary rates. It was suggested that capacity for carrying add'ir tional Press messages could be provided by modication of the conditions of accepting week-end telegrams.

The chairman of the Board said ho most highly appreciated the importance of wide facilities for disseminating Empire news, and entirely sympathised with the aims of the Press Union. The Board would be happy to co-operate in increasing facilities if circumstances permitted, but the cable was occupied to the limit of its capacity, and it was impracticable to handle additional traffic. Accordingly, the Board decided that a further reduction in rates could not be made until the cable was duplicated. The Board intended- shortly to call tenders to duplicate the cable. He did not doubt the double line would be working by tho end of the next eighteen months. It was pointed out that of the 7Jd Press rate, the Board received only threepence for transmission of 10,000 miles, and only threo halfpence of the deferred Press rate. Theso rates were totally unrenninerative, but tho chief reason against a further reduction was that the line already was taxed to its utmost capacity.