Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P., publishes in The Times to-day a collection of letters received from many eminent men in different walks of life expressing their approval of his proposal for the establishment of universal penny a word telegrams. In an introductory letter to The Times, Mr. Heaton points out that, although the people now pay from four to five millions annually for cabling, yet the charges are so high that only one in 100 is a social or family message. On the other hand, the British and Colonial Governments pay nearly a quarter of a million sterling for official messages, a sum which would go far towards the interest on the purchase of the cables from the companies, while the cable is largely employed by rich merchants in their transactions. It follows that while the wealthy and official classes are in full touch with one another all over the world, the overwhelming majority of the people have to be satisfied with the slower methods of the post.
The Irish Times,
November 9th, 1908.