CABLES AND WIRELESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20586, 8 December 1928, Page 13

CABLES AND WIRELESS

CLAUSES OF SALE CONTRACT,

DISCUSSION- IN PARLIAMENT.

(United Press Association,, (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 6. In the-House of Commons the Post-master-general said that Mr Ramsay MacDonald s statement that the Labour Ministry pushed on the beam system in the teeth of the experts’ opposition was a perversion of history. vTne 1 experts accurately forecasted the' effect ol the working of the beam system. It was not a matter of one contract. ' At least five main agreements were needed, it was a new doctrine that the Government should have to get the permission of the House tor the disposal of- Government property. Mr W. J, Baker (Labour) had not any right to impute corruption in share dealings due to official leakages. Major Malone said ho regretted that the Bill did not stipulate that the rates should be &d per Word in the Empire.— Australian Press Association—United Service.

IN TIME OF WAR

,A SPECIAL PROVISION,

LONDON, December 6. (Received Dec. 7, at S.fj p.m.) Mr A. M. Samuel said that the Oppositionists overlooked the fact that Britain was not a predominant partner in Stateowned cables. The domynons held thir-teen-eighteenths of the facitic cable, and Britain, could not brush aside the wishes of partners who held controlling interests. Mr Amery, replying to xMr Ammon, admitted that the imperial Conferences of 1911 and 1921 committed themselves to the principle, of State-owned wireless stations throughout the Empire, At a later conference the Prime Minister of Australia insisted that he must, have full power to decide the method in which the Commonwealth could co-operate. VVithin a few months Australia showed that she did not desire a State-owned system because,., she gave licensee to the Australian Amalgamated Wireless , Company. Later other dominions committed themselves with private, wireless companies. ■' -

Mr Baldwin informed Major Malone that the Imperial Defence Committee had examined the Imperial Wireless Conference's report, which accorded with its views in\ respect to defence. ■ Viscount Wolmer informed Mr Walter Baker that the contract would contain a clause ensuring that none of'the existing cables and wireless systems would be allowed to depreciate, as they, are of, national Interest in the event of emergency. ...

In the committee stags of'the Imperial Telegraphs Bill* Mr Baker moved an amendment disallowing - the Government’s approving of the sale price of the Pacific cable,, with the. object of vesting approval in the House of Commons, Ha pointed out that the 3 per cent, interest on the outstanding t debt was cheaper than the Communications Company could borrow, in the open mar ket. It was. virtually a large gift W it. Cables which cost £7,134,C00 were being handed over for £2.soo,ooo.—(Labour cries of “ Shame,”) Even at the market price, which was the result of a most terrible manipulation, value of the Marconi undertaking was'not equal to the £17,000,000 the Government proposed to let, it have. The Government' should insist on the' Marconi value being the value of the shares prior to the Boom, which was the result qf information obtained from the Imperial-Conference. Mr -W. Wellook said it was nothing but daylight, robbery. The companies came in to save their'skins, and not ; only did so but skinned ” the Government and The people. Mr Amery said that Canada, one of the partners in the Pacific cable, first qjiggested that in view of 'wireless competition with the Pacific cable an Imperial Conference should be called to consider the whole question. The Bill embodied its unanimous report, v . The amendment was defeated by 212 to 128;—Australian Press Association— United Service. s .

THREE CLAUSES PASSED. LONDON, December 7. (Received Dec. 7, at 9 p.m.) , Other amendments were rejected and the flfst three clauses of the Imperial Telegraphs Bill were, passed. The House then adjourned.—Australian Press Association.