Untitled Document

Australia - New Caledonia cable.
Cable rates.

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Special aspects

Cable rates to New Caledonia

Soon after the cable was completed (on 28 October, 1893) there was an agreement between the cable company and the Governments of Queensland and New South Wales that the rates for transmission of press telegrams between these colonies and Gomen, New Caledonia, be fixed at 50% less than the charges for public messages. The press rates between NSW and Gomen were therefore 4s for 10 words and 4d for every additionald word.

The New Caledonian land line rates were to remain as at present, viz., 2d per word for all messages transmitted to and from Gomen and Noumea in addition to the above charges.

As a reflection on early operational difficulties, various Queensland papers reported "A letter has been received from New Caledonia, stating that the Governor of the colony has refused to allow the captain of one of the vessels of the Australian Squadron to send a message to Australia giving as his reason that no message can be sent until the French authorities have arranged a tariff. It is evident that this has given rise to the rumors that the cable is closed to the business of British warships. Inquiries show that no such obstacle exists, as the rates have been fixed and the difficulty is overcome".

Later rates were:

in 1922: 9d per word with transmission via Queensland.
"Telegrams lodged by the French Consul or other French Officers addressed to the Governor or other French Officers in New Caledonia may be accepted as French Government messages and transmitted on payment of the usual rate of 1d per word.
Offices in New Caledonia are available day and night for official telegrams only; for private telegrams they are closed at 9 pm (8 pm Queensland time), Sundays and holidays excepted, when offices will be entirely closed". (CofA, 1922 Post and Telegraph Guide, p. 232)