Press Cable Rate Increase Opposed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31723, 5 July 1968, Page 10

Press Cable Rate Increase Opposed

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 4. Commonwealth Press Union members have unanimously called on their governments to oppose any increase in the Commonwealth press cable rate, claiming that higher charges would hinder the flow of news.

Delegates at the closing session of a two-day meeting of the C.P.U. in London also urged a special press charge for telex communications, with a minimum rate based on a minute. The present charge is £1 a minute for a minimum of three minutes. The conference was told that any new increases in

the Commonwealth press rate would undermine London’s position as the world’s most important clearing house for news.

A Pakistani newsman, Mr Yehia Syed, London correspondent of the “Morning News,” of Dacca and Karachi, told the conference that since the press rate was increased to 3d a word he had been instructed to cut his cable wordage by 85 per cent.

Rumours that the British Post Office was considering raising, even doubling, the present 3d a word ordinary press cable rate were reported. Until last September the rate was Id a word. The delegates—about 100 newspaper owners, editors and reporters—were told that the Post Office should realise that the value of the Commonwealth rate was political, rather than commercial. “Doubling the rate would be disastrous,” declared the chairman of the C.P.U.’s telecommunications committee (Mr Alan Mitchell). “Newspapers of several Commonwealth countries might withdraw their correspondents from London, and the flow of news between Britain and the developing Commonwealth countries could practically dry up when it should be encouraged.” he added.

Mr Mitchell warned the delegates: “London’s position as still being the world’s most important clearing house for news with many foreign, as well as Commonwealth offices and news agencies using its telecommunications facilities could be seriously undermined.”