EMPIRE COMMUNICATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 13

EMPIRE COMMUNICATION

SPEEDING UP WANTED.

POST AND ' CABLE RATES.

MR. MASSEY'S OPINIONS.

fVIIOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON Oct. 19. In the discussion on Empire communications at the Economic Conference, both Mr. Bruce, and Mr. Massey expressed dissatisfaction that the mails take longer to reach Australia and New Zealand than they did before the war " Now-a-days," said Mr. Massey, "it is far too long to occupy 35 or 40 days m carrying mails between New Zealand and England, and we ought to do a great deal better than that. What is wanted is speeding up, and so far as we are concerned we are quite ready to. do our share at the other end if the British Post Office Authorities will help us at this end, and I hope they will. . ' " With regard to postage, many years ago the British Government led the way in connection with penny postage, and there was a loss. New Zealand followed up pretty closely with ' regard to penny postage, and it was marvellous how soon the revenue was increased. We were making a profit with penny postage, and the same may be said here, but when mention is made of the fact—and I do not dispute it for one moment the Chancellor of the Exchequer would lose -'V 000,000 by adopting penny postage, what I think is forgotten is that there is bound to be a tremendous increase in the number of letters carried and a corresponding increase in the revenue. I am not able to say that the one will balance the other, because I think it is • very doubtful that it will, and, as far as 1 am concerned, looking at it as Finance Minister, I quite expect to make a loss for three or six months before we get back to a normal revenue. All the same. 1 think that the authorities here are taking a pessimistic view of what will happen by the adoption of penny postage. A letter is posted in New Zealand to Great Britain, and the postage is Id. The reply from Great Britain to New Zealand costs l£d. I think it is an anomaly that ought to be put right,-and I believe it will be, perhaps, before very long. " With regard to cables, I have been hoping for a long time past to see a reduction in cable rates," said Mr. Massey. "The week-end cable has been a very great convenience to business people and people who are not generally looked upon as business people, but who take advantage of the cheaper cables. I am looking forward with a great deal of optimism to the development of wireless, but I have also to admit we have not done very much in the way of establishing wireless in New Zealand. We have done little or nothing; we are simply watching the course of events. I should like to think that something definite will be done in regard to wireless, so as to give rs— Australia is in this, judging by what the Prime v Minister of Australia said— opportunity of making up our minds. Perhaps Australia has made up her mind— have not-— to what is the best course to adopt and as to the route over which the wireless should go. So far as a wireless station in New Zealand is ■ concerned, I do not think there will be much difficulty in arranging for that. It . is a matter of expense, and the money has got to be found, whether we borrow it or i find it out of revenue."

The trend .of <the Communications debate was again to emphasise the vital necessity of speeding up all kinds of communications as much as possible, and the general hope was expressed that something would be effected in this direction as a result of the conference. The necessity of improving the four means of communication—shipping, the air routes, cables, and wirelesswas recognised by all the representatives as essential to the development of Empire'trade.