WIRELESS 'PHONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 7

WIRELESS 'PHONE.

LINKING UP EMPIRE. Mac Donald and Scullin Talk Across the Globe. UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph- Copyright) LONDON, April 30. The wireless telephone service between London and Australia was opened to-day, when the Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, spoke to the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin. Mr. Mac Donald sat in his usual chair in tho Cabinet Room at No. 10, Down : ing Street, with an ordinary telephone in front of him. A group of journalists in tho next room had each a headphone connected to an array of amplifiers. The Postmaster-General, Mr. H. B. Lees-Smitli, pleased with the new marvel that his department has fashioned in the face of much criticism, kept Mr. Mac Donald company. The Prime Minister's son, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, joined tho journalists -and used a spare headphone. At 8.25 a.m., after repe%ted tests, was heard tho final "0.K." to Mr. Badenach, who replied, "All ready at Canberra, Mr. Mercer." Then punctually as Big Ben chimed tho half-hour, the conversation began. There was not the remotest suggestion of atmospherics at this end. The courtesiee, "My dear Mr. Scullin," and "Mr. Dear Mr. Mac Donald," sounded a little novel after the stereotyped, matter-of-fact every-day conversation of the London exchange, but it was not costing £2 a minute. No Embargo on the "Ashes." Everyone was interested in Mr. MacDonald's disclosure that he hoped sooii to connect Australia with the greater part of Europe and the whole of North America via London. But nothing delighted the listeners more than Mr. Mac Donald's reference to the Australian cricketers' quest of the "ashes." Two Australians in the room and hundreds who were listening to the broadcast were amused by Mr. Scullin's promise that there would he no embargo on the import of the "ashes" to Australia. Mr. Scullin's voice carried perfectly. Indeed it was true, as Mr. Mac Donald said in closing: "You seem just to have been in the next room." Mr. Scullin replied: "It is the same with you." Finally, Mr. Mac Donald said: "An revoir until September. May all good things attend you. Goodbye." -Photographs of the historic scene were taken, and then Mr. Mac Donald went into the journalists' room, full of enthusiasm. Ho said: "I had not heard Mr. Scullin speak since 1906, but I recognised his voice at the first word." Mr. Lees-Smith was very proud of the success. He stated that a conversation was at that moment going on between Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. W. M. Hughes, formerly Prime Minister of Australia.