Press Telegraphic Rates.

Thames Star, Volume XIX, Issue 5823, 28 September 1887, Page 4

Press Telegraphic Rates.

3|or year* yra hate been repeatedly told press telegraphic rates in New Zealand were the lowest in the world, and, that in consequence Government practically subsidised the newspapers. Judging from the following extract from the English Postmaster-General's speech at the telegraph jubilee, wo take a very back seat. Probably.also, the low rates there ruling accounts for so few colonial messages obtaining publicity, a word from this side costing more than a message of a column length of some matter of local importance. The following is the extract: -*-The rate of press messages is on an average not 'much more than 2"d per 100 words. O;s :!■;-■ head the Chairman remarked, " I believe I am not wrong in saying that the cost to the public revenue of the reduced rate to the press is not less - than £200,000 a year, and that the newspapers of this country practically receive a subsidy of ■6200,000 a year in order to enable them to assist in the diffusion of intelligence.. I iniagina-that the country is well satisfied that this should be so, and that there are few people who would wish to abridge that privilege, having regard to the enormous importance to all classes-of the community of being placed at the earliest moment ia possession of the fullest knowledge of what is going on."