PACIFIC CABLE BOARD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 3

PACIFIC CABLE BOARD

INJUSTICE TO NEW ZEALAND REDRESSED. (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, 31st July. A very lengthy sitting of the Pacific Cable Boatd was held this week in connection with the Hon. T. Mackenzie's motion for giving the concession of 4d per word on cablegrams delivered in New Zealaid. This inequality by which New Zealand pays 4d more per word to the Pacific Cable Board than Australia pays has been a matter of injustice to the Dominion since the agreement was entered into in 1902, providing repre* sentation on the board, and the share that each contributing party has to bear towards any deficiency arising between expenditure and receipts. This deficit j has varied from about £80,000 per annum to £32,000 per annum, and is divided between the United Kingdom. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand— that is, they make up the deficiency. The last deficit was made up as fol« lows : — New Zealand "contributed ... £3,585 Aubtralia contributed 10,756 United Kingdom contributed ... 8,963 Canada contributed 8,963 What Mr. Mackenzie had to fight against was the fact that in order to obtain for New Zealand a concession amounting to £9000 per annum, that £9000 per annum would require to be made up by the contributing parties; and naturally Canada opposed, and also the_ United Kingdom. His motion really involved a variation in the original agreement entered into between these respective countries. The case was put very strongly from New Zealand's point of view by her High Commissioner, and was replied to by others at tlie board's table. The tone of the discussion, however, was very fair, and even generous at times. Certain amendments were proposed, and modified, and finally Mr. Mackenzie agreed to accept the following resolution : — "The board recognises it as inequitable that in the case of New Zealand traffic the board should receive lh lid for the same service as for that in the case of Australian traffic it receives Is 7d. The board resolves that further representations be made to the_ Commonwealth Government on the subject of the Australian terminal rate, with a view to securing a reduction of the present tariffis for Australia and New Zealand. It resolves further that if it is not in a position to bring into force such reduction, both for Australia and New Zealand, by the end of the present financial year, the rate between the United Kingdom and New Zealand be reduced to 2s 8d per word from Ist April, 1915." ' Mr. Mackenzie realised that as the Estimates for the current year had been prepared and submitted to the Treasury, the income of the board, in the event of his motion being carried, would not amount to the sum put down in the Estimates. What he secured, with > certain amendments added by himself, was the best that could be done in the circumstances. Tliis, however, is satisfactory, inasmuch as in the preamble to the resolution the board acknowledges that New Zealand was placed on an equitable basis. Of course, reference was made to the original contract, and the fact that it • had stood for twelve years, and it was by joint agreement at that time, But Me Mackenzie contended that twelve years' injustice was 1 no justification for the continuance of that injustice, and the reduction will, of course, come into force at the beginning of the next financial year. In the discussion it was foreshadowed that when the motion which was tabled by Mr. Mackenzie for going into the whole question of rates was further considered, there was a possibility of an increased concession being granted all round to those using the service.