TELEGRAPHS BILL.

Grey River Argus, 10 December 1928, Page 5

TELEGRAPHS BILL.

LIVELY OPPOSITION. Series of Amendments. Aus. and N.Z. zkssu ar.d Cable..* (Received B, at 5.5 p.w. 7 LONDON, Decern be; 7. In Committee on the Imperial Tc.e graph’s Bill, Mr M’ Hock muv d aii mnendmeni fixing the price oi’ two atlanuc cables at £2,500,000. He com plained that the price proposed re present) id one fifth of tlu? original outlay, whereas the Eastern Company was getting double its outlay, and divide A d from beams. The Postmaster General ? pli c the figures were grotesquely wrung. The £450,000 for the Atlantic Cable was a satisfactory bargain on thl original c’ost of £1,086,000. Their present worth to the Government wa a minus quantity. Under the merger scheme they would be male part of a world z system. At per cent they return the Government £21,375 per year, which is more than they earned before. Mr Walter J. Baker (Labour) • in phasised the differential treatment of private cables, which were bring taken intu tq merger on the basis ui their shareholding. For example, Marconi w.th an isssu d capital of £2,500,000, received new shares to the value of £17,350.000. Th y were parting with the valuable* assn of beam, against which cables could nut live. When flip ■“Postmaster Genera! i* fused disclose the- price, he suggested a 1 wireless conference lor cable.. Mr A. V. Alexander (Labour) as a protest, moved to report prugres-, which was negatived by 100 tu 98; likewise an ani ndment. Col. Malone’s new clause, empowering the Government to ru-buy undertakings at the same price, was nega lived by ISO to 98; the Potuiaste General pointing uut that th' y liau power to resume control in war lime. Captain Wedgwood Benn’s proposal, constituting an Imperial Ad vis'ory Committee with absolute control, was negative d by 1&7 to I'3. Com. Kenworthy moved a new clause, transferring the Pacifiq and other staffs to the n"w company on existing condit ons, or otherwir. th y b e compensated. Viscount Wolmer gave assurance that no one would find himself in a worse position under th/ new conditions, TH connection with which they were now negotiating.

was~ negativl d by 169 to 100, and further considl ration of th Bill was adjourned.