§ 55. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Prime Minister, in view of the financial loss now entailed, if he will consider the advantage to the country of handing over to private enterprise the administration of the telephone and telegraph service, but placing the general control of these services under the Postmaster-General?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)As the whole of the present loss on the telephone service and a considerable part of the loss on the telegraph service are due to the recent large increases granted by way of war bonus in the pay of the staff, it is not apparent that there would be any advantage in transferring the administration of the services to private enterprise.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs not the suggestion of the question that there should be increased efficiency rather than decreased cost?