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House of Commons that in granting licences conditions would be
imposed insisting upon free inter-communication between the rival
system throughout the country, and that the holders of these licences
should not impose terminals on one another or against the Post Office.
These conditions were said to be essential. But as every Local
Authority would be independent it would be impossible to enforce any
such covenants except by a revocation of the licence, and this would
be no remedy as it would be destroying the very objects of the scheme
—a universal service. As there would be a large number of Local
Authorities, many of which might have rival interests, such cases might
frequently arise, and your Memorialists submit that effective control over
the service can only be secured by having the whole of the management
in the hands of one governing authority.
8.—The short term of the Licences would not enable the various
authorities to set aside anything towards the recoupment of their outlay,
even if they were able to pay the working expenses. It appears
from the statement made in the House of Commons that only what is
considered good and useful, if anything, will be purchased by the
Government at the expiration of the licences in 1911, and only at what
Government may consider the then value. It is not likely that with these
drawbacks many authorities would be prepared to take upon themselves
the responsibility of such undertakings.
9 —Considerable time would be occupied by the Authorities in
considering the conditions upon which they would be able and willing
to accept licences and by the negotiations with the Government and
with the outlying Local Authorities in relation thereto. Where
licences are granted the various authorities would not have at their
command the technical and scientific skill essential to a satisfactory
service which the Government have at their disposal. Many serious
mistakes would inevitably be made in carrying out the schemes, therebyadding
to the expenses of the service and weakening its management
and effectiveness, and there would remain the great difficulty of working
as one system at the expiration of the licences a vast number of
services, built piecemeal, at different times, and by different bodies.
10.—The Local Authorities could not raise money or enter into
contracts upon such favourable terms as the Government, nor could
they secure such efficient direction for their undertakings. The cost
of management would be much greater, and the number of officers and
employees would be unnecessarily increased.
11.—Your Memorialists submit that for all practical purposes the
Telephone is naturally a branch of the postal service of the country,
and that if it be undertaken, managed, and controlled by the same
c