Press rates

Rates for Press Telegrams

Press Telegrams:	Within any State			Inter-State			Parliamentary, Executive, Departmental or other Commonwealth Proceedings.
	1 Nov 1902	1 Oct 1923	1 July 1949	1 Nov 1902	1 Oct 1923	1 July 1949	1 Nov 1902	1 Oct 1923	1 July 1949
Not exceeding 25 words	6d	8d	1/-	1/-	1/-	2/-	1/-	1/4	1/4
Exceeding 25 words but not exceeding 50	9d	11d	1/5	1/6	1/10	2/10	1/6	1/8	1/8
Exceeding 50 words but not exceeding 100	1/6	1/9	2/8	3/-	3/6	5/3	1/6	2/-	2/-
Every additional 50 words or portion of 50 words.	6d	8d	1/-	1/-	1/4	2/-	1/-	8d	8d

1902-10 rates see COA yearbook 1910 saved.

Press telegrams to and from Tasmania incurred additional charges viz: 100 words: 1/- and
6d for each additional 50 words or part thereof.

Code addresses were not recognised.

On 9 July 1951, word lengths and charges were both altered:

within any State: 1/3 up to 24 words plus ½d per additional word;
inter-State: 2/6 up to 24 words plus 1d per additional word;
Executive, etc: same as the within State rate.

By 1973, Press telegrams had almost disappeared due to the Press Agencies leasing their own private wire channels. Hence the 1973 Budget abolished the concessional category for Press messages. When such messages were transmitted, the charges were as for ordinary rate telegrams.

Western Australia.

Most Colonies had concessions for Press rates and these are noted elsewhere. In addition, special inscriptions on the transmission forms enabled an operator to distinguish between a Press and a non-Press telegram.

In June 1888, the WA Telegraphs issued a notice to clarify the issue and the attendent procedures.