EMPIRE TELEGRAPHS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 281, 24 August 1944, Page 4

EMPIRE TELEGRAPHS

Public Utility Control A statement concern ins the reorganization of the tele-communications services of the Commonwealth was made yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. lhe Commonwealth Communications Council has submitted to the Governments of tlie United Kingdom, the Dominions and India, proposals for a reorganization ot the tele-communications services ot the Commonwealth and Empire by the establishment of public utility corporations in the United Kingdom, in each of the Dominions and India, which would be separately owned with the necessary linking arrangements.” said Mr. Fraser. Advantage was taken of the recent visits to London of the Prime Ministers ot the Dominions and representatives of India to have a preliminary discussion on the proposals. No decisions were taken, but without entering into any commitment it was agreed that the proposal should be examined in detail.” Mr. Fraser added that any public utility corporation formeci in New Zealand that would handle such mutters of very great importance to the country'as a whole would be financed with State capital and function under Government control. This policy corresponded with that in force at the present time under which the Post and Telegraphy Department was responsible within New Zealand for the handling of all communications whether intended for disnatch overseas or distribution in the Dominion, lhe New Zealand representative at the meeting of the Commonwealth Communications Council when these important matters were discussed was the DirectorGeneral of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. J. G. lonng.