67. Sir J. D. REESasked the Postmaster-General whether he has information to the effect that a Bill has been introduced into the French Chamber for the purpose of transferring the national telephone back to a private company?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)So far as I am aware, the answer to the question is in the negative. A Bill was introduced by the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Finance on 12th January this year to abolish the flat rates, and to substitute a general message rate on the grounds that a more equitable basis of charge, by which subscribers pay according to the use made of the service, will tend to develop the system, enable an improvement in the service to be effected, and, at the same time, restore the balance of expenditure and receipts.