THE CABLE DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7787, 5 November 1886, Page 5

THE CABLE DISPUTE.

THREATENED DEADLOCK.

REFUSAL TO COLLECT TERMINAL CHARGES.

We are indebted to the courtesy of the enperintendent of the Cable Company at Wakapuaka for a copy of the following correspondence, relative to the cable dispute :— «• The following telegram h»s been received by the cable superintendent at La Perouse :— 'Sydney, 3rd November. Jobn Squire, Esq., Superintendent New Zealand cable -- We have to-day sent the following to the Postmaster-General, New Zealand :- From late telegrams in newspaper, it teems you are only charging your publio old rates on messages sent from New Zealand, using the 4s to make up company's charge of 10«. 1 think it unfair that senders of messages from here to New Zealand should be asked to recoup your lots, and bear all the disadvantages of the position, and am clearly of opinion now that the proper coarse to' adopt is not to collect any New Zealand terminal charge from sendere in this coiony, but to colleot cable rate to Wakapuaka and our own terminal oharge .only, leaving New Zealand to fix and colleot their own land tariff both ways. Wβ shall commence this arraugement to-morrow, fourth November.—(Signed) F. B. SCTTOB, Post-master-General, N.S.W." ,

To this the Superintendent replied ae fol lows:—"Hon. F. B. Suttor, P.M.G., Sydney : I have received your message giving me a copy of telegram you have forwarded to the P.M.G., JN.Z. The Superintendent of Telegraphs in that colony has been informed that as your Government will cease from to-morrow to collect the New Zealand terminal charges on telegrams from Australia, the company cannot accept any responsibility in regard to the same, and that we shall hand all such telegrams to his department for onward transmission with that understanding." The following message has been forwarded to tbe Superintendent of Postand Telegraphs, Wellington: "The Postmaster-General of New South Wales has to-day notified this company that on and after to-morrow the 4th inst., his department will cease to collect the terminal rates imposed by your Government, on telegrams from Australia. I, therefore, beg to give you notice that the company cannot be held accountable for the same, and that the said telegrams will be handed to your department with that understanding.— W. W. Browning, Superintendent Cable Bay, Nelson." The reply received from the Superintendent of Telegraphs, New Zealand, was as follows : —" W. W. Browning. Esq., Superintendent Cable Company, Wakapuaka.—l am instructed to say we decline to receive messages on any such condition. We adhere to our terminal rates. This in reply to your message of this morning. — (Signed) C. Lemow" Reply forwarded to Superintendent Post and Telegraphs, Wellington.—" In reply to your telegram of to day, I have the honour to inform you that this company will hand to your department all incoming inter-colo-nial telegrams on the conditions mentioned in my telegram of to-day, and that as the onus of stopping such message will rest with your department, the company will not be in any way responsible. — (Signed) W. W. Browning, Superintendent Extension Eastern Company, Cable Bay, November 4, ISS6." Christchurch, Thursday. In reference to the difficulty with the cable company, Sir J. Vogel states that he received a telegram last night from the Postmaster General of New sooth Wales, saying that they would refuse this morning tp collect the terminal rates. The New South Wales Government decline to make up for the increased rates. The New Zeaiand Government are not charging any Increased rates to the Press at present. Dunedin, Thursday. The Chamber of Commerce met to-day to consider the present cable dispute; but, after a slight discussion, the matter was adjourned. Some of the members expressed the opinion that the Government should put an end to the dispute, but the others considered the Government should not be hampered. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs : —The cable dispute continues to be much talked of in commercial circles. I believe it was further considered on Monday before the departnre of the Colonial Treasurer for Christchurch. The only answer I could get to inquiries as to the ultimate decision was: "There i 3 nothing more to be decided."