BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1928, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

IN THE COMMONS. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. (Australian Press Association & Sun.) (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON. March 27. In the Commons, .Mr Mitchell Thomson told a questioner that lie was aware Anglo-Australian and other wireless services were criticised on the grounds of liability of intercepting of messages, but the beam service worked at such a high speed that interception was only possible bv means of complicated expensive receiving sets, worked by experts. He was not aware that certain persons who possessed such instruments were in a position to‘intercept messages. Mr Ward law Milne introduced a Bill compelling motor owners to insure against third party risks. Mr Barr introduced a Bill to establish a national legislature in SeotA land with a single chamber of 1-18 members elected by the present Commons constituencies, to deal only .with domestic- matters. LONDON, March 27. In the Commons, M.r Mitchell 'I bomson, in answer to a question, detailed the reductions in the cabling rates since the introduction of the beam services. He said that no statement of tho future rates was possible till tieimperial ’Wireless-Cable Conference bail reported. Sir Hutchinson on the third reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, raised a question of greater co-ordination in the fighting services. He suggested that the Imperial "Defence Committee should become the executive Ministry of Defence, and apportion the funds to the navy, army and air lorc-e. Mr Baldwin said everyone wanted economy, efficiency, and avoidance ol duplication, but over centralisation was as bad as over decentralisation. It would require a super-minister to supervise the three departments. H war came, which God forbid, unified control would inevitably break clown. .In the Great War despite Lord Kitchener’s titanic energy, an additional department bad to bo formed rapidly.