THE CABLE RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8960, 18 August 1892, Page 5

THE CABLE RATES.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Melbourne, August 17. ; The Argus thinks that though the proposed addition to the cable rates is small, yet the underlying principle is objectionable. There is no promise of permanency in the charges being arrived at ; and, under any circumstances, it would have been well to defer the alteration until the effect of the entry of New Zealand into the guarantee became known. The Age does not consider that the increase would be likely to produce any serious grumbling. The feature of the Conference, which is entirely pleasant, is the accession of New Zealand. Wellington, Wednesday. At a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to discuss the cable rates question, exception was taken to the request of the Government for a guarantee to make good any deficit likely to arise from the adoption of the PostmasterGeneral's scheme, on the ground that it Was introducing a new principle in asking any particular section of the public to give a guarantee. It was pointed out that when the proposal was made last year to remit some £50,000 a year in postal revenue by reducing the rates, no necessity was seen for asking for a guarantee from any section of the public, and there was no' more reason why it should be done in the present instance. Ultimately the consideration of the matter Was postponed till Friday, with a view of getting further information 'from the Government.