Has Nation Been Sold?
“ ffAME OF MARCONIS STANDS FOR SCANDAL.’’ attack in commons ON CABLE MERGER. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received May 22, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. Tn the House of Commons. Mr W. J. Baker, a Bristol Labourite, raised a discussion or the Imperial beam system. He detailed alf the history of wireless since 1923 and said that he understood that a merger between the Marconi Company and the Eastern Company was a calculated attempt to force the hands of the Government. They hoped to take over the Post Office wireless and cable system and control independent wireless and cable companies in the dominions. The fact was that the Marconi Com-, pany knew how great were the potential profits of the Government beam service, he said. It understood that the Post Service service, although in its infancy, was already showing a handsome profit. The cable companies were frankly afraid of the success of the beam and entered the merger as the. only way of escaping competition. Mr Baker objected to Imperial wireless communications being handled by two groups of which he alleged one had a record of scandalous mismanagement. If it was a fact that a decision had been reached in this matter K '- the Imperial Wireless Conference, then the Government had adopted a course which was fatal to national* interests and the chief result of the conference had been to enrich share manipulators.
“ I want to submit to the House calmly and quietly,” Mr Baker added, “ that Marconi, the name of an illustrious inventor, stands definitely for scandal and corruption. It is lamentable that a scientific inventor should have his name abused, but the fact remains that the Government difficulties are due almost entirelv to the financial operations of Marconi’s in the dominions. The gravest possible charges are made in regard to Marconi's operations in the dominions. Distinguished members of the House of Commons have said things I dare not repeat unless there is proof, and I must leave the matter there. The merger is a definite, calculated attempt to force the hands of the Government, and the attempt is accompanied by a treacherous threat on the part of the companies to pav out the shareholders, cease operations, and let the cables go derelict. They threatened this because, after receiving generqus Government assistance, the” were unable to compete with the Government beam service. The Opposition’s great fear was that the recommendation had been agreed to by. the conference, and that when the dominion Governments acquiesced thqjr would have found the bargain concluded.” Mr Baker concluded by asking the Government to say why the Secretary for Scotland was asked to look after the Government's interests. He was conspicuous for his geniality and courtesy, but these were not the weapons with which to meet an international gajig.—Australian Press AssociationUnited Service.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 4
Word Count
472Has Nation Been Sold? Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 4
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