PRESS CABLES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 22 July 1909, Page 8

PRESS CABLES.

MELBOURNE, July 21.

In the Senate, Senator Pearce asked whether the Government had agreed to a reduction of the land charges on press cables, and whether the daily press, to whick the concession was made, had given a guarantee to have all messages sent over the Pacific line and not over the Eastern Extension line. He asked if it were not a fact that messages were 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 the syndicate, would also receive concessions?

Mr Pearce was asked to give notices of the questions. In reference to a recent statement in a business circular that press cables were obtained through one channel only and which in restraint of trade forbids a paper to receive or publish 'independent cables, the Attorney-Gen-gral said the statement did not allege they were fact?. If thpy were proofed to be facts, they would justify prosecution. He added that if there were facts available from any source callinc: for an enquiry, full consideration would be given. t (Received July 22, 10.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 22. The Postmaster-General received a reply from the Pacific Cable Board agreeing to a reduction in press cablegrams from Is to 9d per word from August 1. The request of the Eastern Extension Company for a similar reduction will be agreed to. Referring to the reduction the Postmaster said it would be base ingratitude if the newspapers did not now support the Pacific. Had it not been for the Pacific cable users would not have had the concessions they now enjoy. Surely the Pacific must get some of the increased business which must come from ihe" reductions. If not, where was the encouragement for the Board /to make further concessions? He did not think the Pacific claims to public support had been adequately recognised,, seeing that their annual deficiency was so great. He added: "We do not wish unduly to compete with other cables, or in any way to unduly press the claims of the Pacific Board," but certainly we want a fair, share of the business. The Pacific is entitled to' this from the patriotic standpoint."