CABLE CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 5

CABLE CHARGES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Monday. FtruTHKR correspondence has passed re cable rates. Mr. Warren, general manager of the Eastern Extension Cable Company, wired to Mr. Ward from Adelaide that the hitter's experts considerably underestimate tho cost of working, etc. Last year station expenses amounted to £5853, and no allowance was made for amortisation, which cannot be less than £6000 for each cable per annum. Expenses this year will be much greater, owing to recent extensive renewals to the original cables. Mr Ward replied that he had gone carefully into figures, and was unable to agree with Mr. Warren. The wide difference between the estimates was probably from the fact that Mr. Warren's figures were swelled by many items which would not be taken into account were the cable State owned. For instance, the staffs at Wakapuaka and La Perouse, which are training stations, are probably always in excess of actual requirements. Mr. Ward points out that the company works the Sydney land line, and has lately added largely to station buildings and instruments. In Mr. Ward's estimates instruments were included in capital cost, and £6000 a year was set down for salaries, etc., which he believed to be well within the mark. The cost of extensive cable repairs and renewals and up-keep of cable steamer were debited against the amortisation fund, while Mr. Warren's estimate was no doubt based on the practice adopted in the working of the company's system. The figures were* considerably above what it would cost the Government. Mr. Ward adds that, while he has one object, that of securing the lowest possible rates in the interests of the colony, and he is glad to learn, as the result of the Government's efforts, that New Zealand secured the lowest cabin rates in the world, still he feels that much lower rates should be secured, if possible, and regrets Mr. Warren is not able to meet the Government re money order rates. He thinks Mr. Warren has possibly overlooked the fact that the new form of message introduced in March reduced the number of words to 11.