COMMUNICATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20538, 14 July 1928, Page 7

COMMUNICATIONS

CABLES AND WIRELESS STATE OR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP? QUESTION IN COMMONS (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 7.5 p.m.) London, July 13. In the House of Commons, Mr J. J. Macpherson (Labour), referring to the Imperial Cable and Wireless Conference, asked if the proposed new communications company would be on State or private ownership lines. It was most important to know whether the Post Office advocated that it should be a State or private company. He welcomed the suggestion in the Press forecast of the report that a proportion of the profits were being reserved for a reduction in rates. The Post Office should be run on these lines, but the Exchequer had always been ready to seize surpluses. Mr Macpherson complained that despite a great postal surplus the reversion to penny postage was no nearer. Commander Burney (Conservative), called attention to the possibilities of the Air Mail service, stating that the PostmasterGeneral should get into touch with the Governments of India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and ask them to come to a definite conclusion how they proposed to handle the whole question of trans-ocean air mails. The Minister’s reply did not refer to the Cables and Wireless Conference. He said the Post Office was anxious to encourage the air mail. A hundred thousand pounds weight in letters and parcels had been despatched abroad in that manner last year. Practically speaking the whole Empire was covered by the air mail service with railway connections. The Post Office was anticipating the keenest interest in airship development which was promised in the autumn.—Australian Press Association— United Service. PROPOSED AMALGAMATION. QUESTION TO PRIME MINISTER. (Special to the Tinies.) Wellington, July 13. Further information concerning the proposed amalgamation of the Empire cable and wireless services is now on its way to the Government and until this is received no statement can be issued at this end. An announcement to this effect was made in the House to-day by the Prime Minister in answer to a series of questions by Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) who asked whether New Zealand was represented at the London conference and if its delegate was acting under Cabinet instructions. Mr. Fraser also asked if the report and recommendation of the conference had been received and if there were any danger of the Pacific cable being replaced by a privately owned cable and if the interests of the users of the Empire communications would be protected under the suggested scheme. Mr. Coates said that representatives of the various governments of the Empire had been present at the conference. The report had come to hand only this week and he had since been advised that a further communication was on its way. He had not yet been able to study the report nor would he be able to do so until the final advice to which he had referred came to hand. When he had all the information available he would be glad to make a statement to the House. He regretted he could not say any more at the moment.