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Recommendation 8: Telephone Services. —''The Post Office in London will reserve the right to conduct the external telephonic services of Great Britain, but will agree with the company on the terms on which it will have the right to use the company's wireless stations or portions thereof for telephonic purposes." 44. The above scheme is designed to secure, a common basis for the conduct of telegraphic communications of the various parts of the Empire. The full benefits of the scheme can only be secured by whole-hearted co-operation on the part of all the Governments concerned and of the undertakings conducting telegraphic communications throughout the Empire. The establishment or authorization of services within the Empire which work in opposition to, or, indeed, out of harmony with, the above scheme would deprive it of much of its value, and would militate against the objects which we have endeavoured to attain. We recommend, therefore, that if our proposals commend themselves to the Governments of the severaf parts of the Empire they should take steps to apply the principles of the scheme, with such modifications in points of detail as may be necessary to meet local conditions, to the overseas telegraphic undertakings operating within their jurisdiction. For example, it will bo appreciated that the prospects of harmonious working might be prejudiced if any of the undertakings concerned were not under predominant British control. 45. After an exhaustive study of all the factors involved, and consultation with all available interests concerned, we feel convinced that the scheme we have propounded above provides the best solution of what is a problem of the first, importance to all parts of the British Empire. The scheme, of service is not only a matter of common interest, but possibly the link on which more than any other the several parts of the Empire depend for mutual intercourse. Our recommendations will, we believe, establish this service on a firm foundation, lead, to its development, and provide for its administration in a manner well calculated to bring to the communities which it is its function to serve all the benefits which naturally flow from a rapid, cheap, and efficient system of communications.

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