IS THERE A MONOPOLY?

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 19, 22 July 1909, Page 7

IS THERE A MONOPOLY?

CONCESSIONS ASKED FOR COUNTRY PAPERS. ' MELBOURNE, 21st July. In the Senate to-day Mr. Pearce asked whether the Government had agreed to a reduction in the land charges on press cable messages, and whether the daily press, to which the concession was made, had ' given a guarantee to have all messages sent over the Pacific cable and not over the Eastern Extension. He asked if it was not a fact that messages were now despatched over the latter? Seeing that the daily press had a monopoly, he asked would the Government see that in any agreement the country newspapers — which were •the customers of a syndicate — would also receive concessions? Mr. Pearce also asked leave to give notice of questions relative to the recent statement in a business circular that the press cables were obtained through one channel only, and thus comprised a restraint of trade, since a paper was forbidden to receive and publish independent cable news. The Attorney-General, Mr. Flynn, said the statement did not allege any facts which, if proved, would justify a prosecution ; but if there were facts available from any source calling fjienquiry full consideration would be given to them.