PRESS CABLE SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 7

PRESS CABLE SERVICE

SELECT COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

TWO DISSENTIENTS.

Prfiss Association—Ry Telegraph— Copyright,

•MELr>OURNE, December 6, The Select Committee'.? report says, further, 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 tho first four or five' years. It was contended by the association that it had passed ihe whole benefit of tho recent- reduction on to the public by means of increased messages. The figures, however, that were supplied by the "Telegraph. authorities showed that while the Cable Association had increased the seivico at a cost to itwlf of about £iS3 per month it was saving as a result of the reduction of the rate £500 a month.

Senators Pulsford and Chat-sway presented dissentient reports, in which tliev slated with regard to the alleged monopoly that witness after witness had said that- r, new service might Ik established. Ths evidence disclosed fairly generous dealing with the press outside the association, .especially in view of the fact that New Zealand, which was included in the Cable Association, Rad had an enlarged service as the result, of the reduction"in the rate. Some doubt was thrown on the Telegraph Department's figures, and there was no reason to question the accuracy of the association's figures. Mr Chatsway dissented generally oil the ground that the report was against, the weight of evidence, but he advised a reduction in the Australian land charges, which are out of proportion to tho New Zealand rate.