BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1928, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

ABOUT THE -MERGER

COMMONS PIIOAIISED A REVIEW. (United Press Association.--By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, AJay 22. Jn tho House of Commons, Sir ]la mar Greenwood (Conservative) said lie disagreed with Air Baker’s conclusions in favour of State control "of communications, which, in view of State lack of capital, made for under-development of a great experiment. The State-owned cables and beam system had been excellent, but was now time that they were transferred to private enterprise. This was an opportunity to make a good bargain on the rising market. -Mr Ammon (.Labour ex-Alinisteiq said: “There seems to be an atmosphere of corruption and wire-pulling about the wireless communication and the (able companies that is almost without parallel in the history of commerce.”

Cuptan Inn Eraser (Conservative) said the merger proposed was “ a marriage of two entities, one of which owned the best method of transmitting messages, while the other owned the best method of collecting iaiid bandling.” He believed that those in favour of the nationalisation of this industry were serving a political doctrine. rather than the needs of the country.

Sir John Gilmour (Conservative) speaking as Chairman of the Cable Conference, detailed the progress of its inquiries. He pointed out that the problem was not an easy one to unravel. It involved considerable research. They had to consider the "repercussion in Australia and the other Dominions and Colonies. The Government, he said, accepted no responsibility for the merger, which was to be subject to a satisfactory arrangement with the Governments of Britain and the Dominions and India. All of the possible, reaction from the merger lmtl been examined in detail by the Conference. Sir John Gilmour added that Air Baker had expressed the iear that the House ol Commons had been deprived of an opportunity of considering the problem before the beam-cable merger had become an accomplished fact. Consultations and communications were still proceeding. He could not say alien they would be concluded. When the Conference made its recommendations, the British and Dominion Governments would decide on their wtion. Before anv definite conclusions were taken the matter would he hi ought before the House of Commons. He hoped this tvpuld reassure the doubters. Air Vernon Hartshorn (Labour) said he welcomed Sir John Gilmour’s announcement. The debate then concluded.