TELEGRAPHIC RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12077, 22 September 1902, Page 4

TELEGRAPHIC RATES.

We should always be ready to learn from our neighbours. The Federal authorities, after considerable deimu and discussion, have made 16 words the minimum for telegraphic messages, as an alternative to the counter proposal that addresses should be carried free. In the United Kingdom, as our readers are aware, the latter system prevails and the actual message alone is charged lor. In the colonies we have acquired the habit of making the most of our " concessions" to users of State monopolies, this for political purposes, while at the same time we swell our revenues by making every possible point against the public. The effect of this, in telegraphic matters, is to make the sixpenny telegram in reality only cover three or four words, the balance being taken up by the address. The Australian reform, of allowing six words for addresses and thus increasing the "ten-word" message to sixteen, will be felt as" a great advantage by many people. Sir Joseph Ward understands too well the commercial advantage of cheapening and popularising rates for any argument to be necessary. Eeasoning from very similar cases there is no likelihood that such a " concession" would be followed by any reduction in total revenue, while it would make real the Sixpenny. Telegram which at present has often a very nominal existence.