CARTEL UNLIKELY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 6

CARTEL UNLIKELY

Empire Communications (Received August 24, 9 P-m.) LONDON, August 24.

Better, faster and cheaper communications between Empire countries are the object of reorganization proposals of the Commonwealth Communications Council which the Dominion Governments arc now considering, states the “Daily telegraph.” The Dominions have submitted The proposals to their own experts, whose opinions will be known when the council next meets. . There is no intention that Empire communications should become the monopoly of any single body. The Dominions and India each want the ownership of their systems through public utility corporations working in close cooperation with each other. The version of the private companies of the Empire into public utility services is a task of some complexity. These associated bodies are at present linked by financial control, but under the new system -some other arrangement must be devised to replace the bonds which are now purely commercial. The next meeting will also consider the relation of the Empire services with the American-owned system. A Treasury official said: "One enormous cartel to operate the Empire’s services will not bo created. The scheme nt present is in a very preliminary singe, and iis final shape is unpredictable till the Empire experts have passed judgment.” An Ottawa message announces that tne Canadian Press says if the recommendations of the Commonwealth Communications Council to the Empire Governments are acted on. Canada’s cable communication with New Zealand and Aiistralin, now owned by Cable and Wireless. Ltd.. London, would be taken over by proposed Canadian, New Zealand and Australian companies jointly. The wjreless communications now operated by the Canadian Marconi Company presumably would also be included in the new arrangement.