JEALOUS EYE ON BEAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 356, 17 May 1928, Page 9

JEALOUS EYE ON BEAM

BIG COMMERCIAL INTERESTS CABLE-WIRELESS RUMOURS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service) LONDON, Wednesday. The Parliamentary correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says a belief, not entirely confined to Labour circles, has prevailed in Parliament for some days that the Wireless-Cable Conference has arrived at conclusions of a far-reaching character. The impression is that the conference will eventually recommend the transfer of the beam wireless service and certain cable services to- the Marconi and Eastern Telegraph companies. It is understood that the decisions of the conference have been submitted to the Governments of the Dominions and that its report cannot be compiled until their replies have been received. It Is stated in Ministerial circles that should the suggested transfer become an accomplished fact, the Government would reserve complete rights of control in case of emergency. COMMONERS CONCERNED The Labour Party is pressing for an early day on which to discuss the matter. The Government will bring down an appropriation vote next week, but nrobably little will be revealed. Members of the House of Commons are undoubted!v concerned to discover whether or no there is any solid foundation for the rumours now in circulation. In view of the statement that negotiations are afoot to hand over the beam service to private concerns the controlling officers of the Post Office at a conference passed a resolution to the effect that this would be opposed to the national interests. Mr. Barrow, of Bristol, said big business interests were jealously eyeing the beam service. which was now on a pavable ! basis. He said he believed newspaper j attacks on the had been made | in order to create opposition to State I ownership.