PACIFIC CABLE BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 March 1927, Page 9

PACIFIC CABLE BILL.

PASSES SECOND READING. A SALARY QUESTIONED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 10.30 a.in. to-day. LONDON, March 30. In the House of Commons the Hon. L. M. S. Amery, Secretary for the Dominions, moved the second reading of the Pacific Cab'e Board Bill. He ,said it was a satisfactory agreement and permitted a partner of the Government’s concern to reap the fruits of long efforts and sacrifices, and to distribute some of the profits among the partners; but he emphasised that the ideal was service to the business people of the Empire and not piofits. Mr Sidney Webb gave Labour’s blessing to the Bill, remarking that if lie had iiitroluced the measure it would have been called a gross piece of Socialism.

Messrs Kirkwood and Maxton assailed the salary of £IOOO for the chairman. Mr Amery said the salary must be such as would command an active, able chairman. The Bill was read a second time. The Bill embodies the- provisions of the recent conference agreement, and in addition permits elasticity in the amount to he paid annually to the reserve fund. It also empowers the board, with the approval of the partners, to undertake for the . Governments of any of the Dominions any cable or wireless services within its sphere of operation, or within the Oarribbean Sea ; also, if necessary, to provide a news service for the. W r est Indies. The new measure will operate from April 1.