PRESS CABLE SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 672, 24 November 1909, Page 7

PRESS CABLE SERVICE.

.;;■' senate'inquiry., ■..-■: ;■;: .. QUALITY OF NEWS SUPPLIED TO NEW /•• ;,'•: V'.'- ZEALAND. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.) ' (Eec. November 23, 7.55 p.m.) ."'.•■'■..■..■ Melbourne, November 23. i The ■Select' Committee appointed by the Sanate, to consider the press cable -service, especially . iii relation to charges 'of monopoly made against the; Press Association by Senator Pearce, heard the evidence of Mr. Kyan, President of tho Country Press Association, '.who said lie was not prepared to express an-1 opinion regarding the subsidising •of a cable service; Ho had visited London to'inquire into the matter.of a second cable service,.and found that the financial question prevented its establishment. He came to the conclusion that if anything were dono they should get the news through one of the-existing British'agencies. A second service could be established. if two or three metropolitan papers would bear tho brunt of the expense!: ; The only-other remedy would'be a,cheapening of the cable rates. So far as he was awareV there wd9 no - substantial grievance on the part of the: Country newspapers of New, South Wales/against the'present: service, Individuals might have grievances, but not the bulk.of the proprietors. If a second service was established and a copyright law was passed, the position of the country; press' would be worse. The papers: would, even if it broke their backs, have to maintain the.service. ': ,' ' Mr. Traser/manager.in Sydney for the New Zealand Press Association, said he supplied the Australian Cablo' 'Association cablegrams to New Zealand. He was not in a position'., to say what was paid ■ for'.; these cablegrams.-y All the financial negotiations were conducted between . Wellington and Melbourne, and the. .matter did not come under his notice.' ■'• He refutedya statement made' by :Mr. Brooke (superintendent: in , Victoria .for the Eastern Extension Company) that the cablegrams supplied to New Zealand bad been reduced from 1900. He submitted figures showing that there had been a continuous increase in the number of-words..'. - '"■ " ; \ ' v ■Senator Pearce: the New Zealand .press. complained about, the, quality of the news ?— Witness: No. We should not continue with them (the 'Australian Cable Association); if wo ha.ti.'y ■..''■'.';■:,'■ ;.;'' .•■ ..',■'■ ;..;;.' ]\ : - - Senator Pearce: What would you do?-: Witness: We would start a Bervice-of our own.'" '■. Senator Pearce:; What would' it ; cost?— Witness: Roughly, 'about ,£IO,OOO per annu> % ' Senator Dobson: What do.you think of the manner';in. which the.present- Cablo.Association Serves the press f—Witness': We are served very well.- No doubt everything is capable of Improvement; .Wo. have no fault; to find. with oitner the 1 quality, or the acouracy of the news.' Naturally, from ; _a New Zealand point of view, tve might like to "make some few; changes."/''"'•-. : . To Senator' Givens: With a second cable eer. , vice duplication 6f - news would be absolutely, unavoidable.:.-The present .service was : fairly comprehensive j any other service- must necessarily send much the 'same, items.. ... ~ \