PRESS CABLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 5

PRESS CABLES.

A SUBSIDISED SERVICE. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, December 6. The report of the Press Cable Committee says that the organisation of the Cable Association is so complete that- it seems almost impossible for another association to start and succeed without Government assistance for the first four or five years. It was contended by the association that while it had passed the whole benefit of the recent reduction on to the public by means of increased messages, the figures supplied by the telegraph authorities showed that while the Cable Association increased its service at a cost to themselves of about £183 per month, they were saving, as a result of the reduction, at the rate of £550 per month.

Senators Pulsford and Chat a way presented a dissenting report, in which they stated with regard to the alleged monopoly that witness after witness staled that a new service might be established. The evidence disclosed a fairly generous dealing with the press outside the association, especially in view of the fact that New Zealand was included. The Cable Association had enlarged the service as a result of the reduction of rates. Some doubt was thrown on the Telegraph Department's figures, and there was no reason to question the accuracy of the Association's figures.

Senator Chataway dissented generally on the ground that the report was against the. weight of evidence, but he advised a reduction of Australian land charges to *lew Zealand rata*