BEAM COMPETITION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 6 December 1927, Page 5

BEAM COMPETITION

EFFECT ON CABLE COMPANIES PACIFIC BOARD'S LOSS. CO-OPERATION? [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.) (Received 6, 12.25 p.m.) London, Dec. 5. In the House of Commons. Mr. A. M. Samuel, in reply to questions, said the Government was considering the effects of the competition of the Wireless Union on the cable companies' revenue. The Pacific Cable Board had undoubtedly suffered in the past year as a result of the com. petition ol the beam at lower- charges. The board was effecting economies and experts were constantly engaged in improving methods. The Pacific Company's new cable was the most effective in the world Mr. E. Harmsworth (Conservative, Thanet) : Is there to be co-operation between the cables and wireless? Mr. Samuel said he had no knowledge of the matter. Mr. F. A MacQuisten (Conservative. Argyll): Will you see that in any co-operation the public benefits in the shape of reduced charges. There was no answer (A. and N.Z.) RATE WAR MAY BE OBVIATED MEETING TO-MORROW. (Received 6, 1.20 p.m.) London, Dec. 5. The Eastern Cable Company lias issued a statement that their associated companies as far back as October 26 informed the Post Office of the action they contemplated in regain to wireless competition but deierreu action on the Post Office’s intimation that it was consulting other departments and hoped to deal with the matter before the end of the year. It had been consistently rumoured that it was proposed to reduce cable rates on December 31 to the same level as the wireless rates and, in this connection, it was stated that the beam controllers were ready lor a further cut to miantaiu the existing margin. * This rate war might be obviated as a result of the meeting of interested parties being held on Wednesday.— (A. and N.Z.)