DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 243, 14 July 1928, Page 11

DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF, COMMONS (Australian Press Assoeiattfon.) (Rec. July 13, 7.5 pjn.) London, July 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. J. I. Macpherson (L,), referring to the Imperial Cables and Wireless Conference, asked if the proposed new communications company would be on State or private ownership lines. It was most important, and it was also important to know whether the Post Office advocated that it should be a State or a private company. He welcomed the suggestion in the Press forecast of the report that a proportion of the profits was being reserved for reduction of rates. The> Post Office should be run on those lijnes, but the Exchequer had always bejsn ready to seize the surplusses. Miy Macpherson complained tjiat despite the great postal surplus reversion to penny post was no nearer. Commander Burney called attention to the possibilities of an air mail service, stating that the EJocstmaster-Geu-eral should get into touch with the Government of India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and ask them to come to a definite conclusion as to how they proposed to handle the whole question of transocean air mails. The Minister’s reply did not refer to the Cables and Wireless Conference. He said the Post Office was anxious to encourage an air mafil. A hundred thousand pounds weight of letters and parcels had been despatched abroad in that manner last year. Practically speaking, the whole Empire was covered by air mail service, with railway connections. The Host Office was anticipating the keenest interest in air-, ship development, which was promised in the autumn. j