PACIFIC CABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 247, 18 October 1929, Page 8

PACIFIC CABLE.

WHY IT WAS SOLD. POSTMASTER-GENERAL TWITTED. UNKIND LABOUR COMMENT. ;By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter;; WELLINGTON, Thursday. . The lire of Opposition sharpshooters was directed at the Postmaster-General the Hon. J. B. Donald, to-night, when lie moved the second reading of the Pacific Cable Sale Authorisation . Bill Exception was taken in the first place to the fact that. Mr. Donald's speech consisted of only two or. three, sentences, 111 which lie explained that the bill gave effect to an. arrangement made by the previous Administration last year whereby New Zealand agreed to sell its share in the Pacific cable to the Communication:; Company. Mr. Donald said if members, wanted to know anything iurther he could give details 111 the committee stage. The Leaner of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. .) G. Coates, professed to be startled by the Postmaster-General's very brief speech. "We should try to probe so as to get an explanation," lie said. "I can't understand the studied cryptic way in which some bills arc brought forward. (Laughter.) Personally, however, I think the right thing has been done in selling this cable."

"Mast Dangerous Combine." "The Postmaster-General's method in moving the second reading of this bill Is an unprecedented one,"' said Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour party. "Why, Mr. Speaker, he just flung it into the Chamber, and, in the language of 20 or- 30 years ago, he might have said, -\Yhal, 110, she blimps.' " (Loud laughter.) Mr. Holland outlined the whole history of the negotiations'which brought about f.lie cable and beam wireless merger between British countries, and showed '■fiw the newspaper Press of Great Britain, advocated handing over those .rent public services to a ; private company. Mr. Holland said he regarded it as one of the most dangerous combines ever brought into existence, and re"■'tided the Hoii«e'that Sir Joseph Ward did not a wee with what had been done.

'Mr. Wilkinson' (Egmont) said the House should have been given more information than had been vouchsafed by the Postmaster-General. The Leader of the House, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, made full explanation regarding the bill, and pointed out that members could have ; .een what was the efleet-of the bill had I thev read the very complete preamble. The Prime M'li'ster. • said Mr. Forbes, v.nd stated that he did not think the"sale of the cable was iii"the interests of New Zealand, but. .this arrangement having been made by New Zealand at last year's "Oiiference. nothing could be done but to vntroduce til's bill. New Zealand was not in a position to alter the arrangement.. and the bill was merely the formal winding up. > Feared.Radio Control More. Mr. Howard (ChrisLcluirch South) said lie feared those in charge of New Zealand radio iiiore than ! he'did •-'this big octopus" merger, because New.Zealand's control of radio matters stilled initiative. It was all wrong that a man who could make a receiving, set in-a few minutes out of a few odds and ends should have to pay a big license fee to the monopoly. He did not blame the present Minister for this, nor did he blame the former Postmaster-General, who knew nothing "of radio apparatus. Indeed Sir William. Nosworthy would not have known which 'end radio messages came in and which end thfey went out," nor recognise a radio set had lie seen 011 c. (Laughter.) Mr. Howard said he' would not. describe the present Postmaster-General as a blank cartridge, but lie might be a rubber stamp. He would not say what he was. ' Mr. Semple: Ah, you" have your suspicions. .... Mr. Howard: Yes, I have my suspicions (Loud Labour and Reform laughter.) A protracted debate followed. Cheaper. Service in Future.

Mr. Donald, replying, said lie had not given more complete information at the outset because the whole transaction had been explained during the 1928. session, and could be consulted in Hansard. He went on to make a long detailed statement regarding tlie whole transaction. As the result of the sale of the cable New Zealand got back £61,273 of its share in the cable, which meant that there had been a net loss of about £8000. Mr. Lysnar: Nothing to weep about. Mr. Donald: No, it is uot very -big; and against that we have a much cheaper, service. There would-have been a continual loss had beam wireless and the cable service gone on in competition, and that was the reason why the previous Government agreed to the sale of the cable. Mr. Donald said New Zealand's share in the cable had been so small that this country coudl not have stopped its sale. New Zealand had no shares in the merger. Referring to Mr. Howard's remarks, Mr- Donald said that so long as he was Postmaster-General he would see that no rights of the people of New Zealand were given away.

"Take it next day, and let us have some more information," called out Mr. Lvsnar when Mr. Donald moved that the bill be committed forthwith. (Laughter.) The bill was set down for committal on next sitting day.