HIGHER CABLE RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 5

HIGHER CABLE RATES

CONSIDERABLE INCREASES NEW CODE REGULATION. WEEK-END SYSTEM ABOLISHED. Changes which will take effect shortly in the cable tariff between New. Zealand and other parts of the world, involve considerable increases in charges hr the more popular classes of messages;* The changes are the result of decisions at the Infer-' national Telegraph Conference, held ;Jn Madrid last September. '< ; ■ > ’ : The first change will become operative on April 1, and will materially- increase the charges for the popular "delayed” messages, which are transmitted at present at only a fraction of the ordinary full rate. The present week-end message, which is accepted during the weekend and delivered to a London addressee on the Monday morning at: a minimum charge of 8s 4d for 20 words, with 5d for every additional word,, will be abolished. This is the cheapest form of cable communication in existence, and although it cannot be used for code messages, it is popular with business houses as well as with private individuals. The other cheap rate, the “daily letter” rate, is to be materially increased. The present charge is 10s for a minimum of 20 words, with 6d for every additional word, the message being delivered in London within 48 hours of the time of handing in. The rate from April 1 onward will be a third of the ordinary ful rate charge, with a minimum of 25 words. INCREASE OF TWO-THIRDS. The ordinary full rate is Is 8d a word, which will make the minimum daily letter rate 13 10 2-3 d under the new arrangements. The fraction will be avoided in some way, although the postalauthorities in Auckland have not yet received advice as to the definite rate. ' However, with the abolition of th® week-end message, the daily letter will become the cheapest form of cable communication. Accordingly the lowest charge will be in the vicinity of 13s lOd instead of 8s 4f1,. representing an increase of 66 2-3 per cent The rates quoted are those for messages between New Zealand and England. Corresponding alterations are to be made in the rates between New Zealand and other parts of the world. A feature of cable rates for messages between New- . Zealand and England is that charges are not affected by exchange rates. The charge for messages is the same in Auckland as it is in London, notwithstanding the fact that New Zealand currency is depreciated to the extent of 25 per rent, RATE FOR CODE MESSAGE. Alterations are also to be made in the rates for code messages, although they will not become operative until January 1, 1934. These alterations will also result in increased charges. A five-letter code word system will be the standard, without the present vowel restrictions, and the charges will be at the rate of 60 per cent of the ordinary full tariff, with a minimum charge as for a five-word mes- 1 sage. t The new charge will accordingly be Is for a word of five letters, as against the present charge of Is 8d for a word of ten letters. This represents an increase of 20 per cent Under the new system restrictions will . be made regarding the number of groups of figures in code messages. The number of figures or groups of figures must not exceed one-half of the number of words ; in the text and signature. At present there are no restrictions *of this nature. The “ordinary” rate remains unaltered at Is 8d a word and the “deferred” rate at lOd a word. Messages sent "deferred” are transmitted and delivered as soon as possible, but “ordinary” messages are in effect urgent and take priority. Further details of the new charges will be announced on the receipt of more definite advice from London.