ATTACK ON MERGER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 9

ATTACK ON MERGER

LABOUR AND CABLE BILL “SKINNED THE PUBLIC” AN AMENDMENT REJECTED ' L nited P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association ! (United SerxiceJ Reed. 13.55 p.m. LONDON, Thursday. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, informed Mr. P. B. Malone tConservative) that the Imperial Defence Committee had examined the Imperial Wireless Conference's report which accorded, with its views iu respect of defence. Viscount Wolmer informed Mr. Walter Baker (Labour) that the contract would contain a clause ensuring that none of the existing cable or wireless systems would be allowed to depreciate as a national interest In the event of emergency. At the committee stage of the Imperial Telegraph's Bill. Mr. Baker moved an amendment disallowing partner Governments from approving the sale price of the Pacific cable with the object of vesting approval with the House of Commons. Mr. Baker pointed out that 3 per cent, interest on the outstanding debt was cheaper than the Communications Company cpuld borrow in the open market. It was virtually a large gift to them. Cables which cost £7,134,000 were being handed over for £2,500,000. Labour cries of “Shame,"' Even at the present market price, which was the result of most terrible manipulation, the value of the Marcoui undertaking was not equal to £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 of information obtained at the Imperial Conference. Mr. W. Wellock (Labour): It is nothing but daylight robbery. The companies came in to save their skins, and not only did so, but skinned the Government and the people. “PERVERSION OF HISTORY” The Postmaster-General, Sir Mitr chell-Thomson, said Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s statement that the Labour Ministry pushed on the beam system in the teeth of experts’ opposition was a perversion of history. The experts accurately forecast the effect of the working of the beam system. It was not a matter of one contract. At least five main agreements wdre needed. It was a new doctrine that they should have to get the permission of the House for the disposal of Government property. Mr. Baker had not any right to impute corruption in share dealing due to official leakages. Mr. Malone regretted that the Bill did not stipulate that the rates should be 5d a word all over the Empire. DOMINIONS’ SHARE Mr. A. M. Samuel, Secretary of the Treasury, said the Oppositionists overlooked the fact that Britain was not the predominant partner in Stateowned cables. The Dominions held thirteen-eighteenths of the Pacific cable. Britain could not brush aside the wishes of her partners holding controlling interests. Mr. L. S. Amery,’ Dominion Secretary, replying to Mr. C. G. Ammon (Labour) admitted that the Imperial Conferences of 1911 and 1921 committed themselves to the principle of State-owned wireless stations all over the Empire. At a later conference, the Prime Minister of Australia insisted that it must have full power to decide the method in which the Commonwealth should co-operate. Within a few months Australia showed that it did not desire a State-owned system, because it gave licences to the Aus : tralian Amalgamated Wireless Company. Later, the other Dominions committed themselves to private wireless companies. Canada, one of the partners in the Pacific Cable, first suggested that in view of wireless competition with the Pacific Cable, an Imperial Conference should be called to consider the whole question, and the Bill embodied iTs unanimous report. The amendment was negatived by 212 votes to 128.