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TOLL CALL TO LONDON.

RADIO TELEPHONY TEST. MR FORBES TALKS WITH COLLEAGUES. VOICES HEARD DISTINCTLY. (PRESS .ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, November IS. Another link in the chain of Empire communication was forged this evening, when a small gathering in Parliament House, Wellington, took part in conversations with the Prime Minister, tho Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and his party at their official quarters in London. For nearly an hour London and Wellington were in constant touch by means of wireless telephone. The occasion was unique, for it marked what was probably a re'eord long distance wireless telephone connexion. Although at times the voices faded, reception at each end was remarkably clear. On many occasions those at Wellington might have been speaking to someone on tho opposite side of the street, and sometimes the voice from London, coming through with great force, could bo heard all over the room. The final tests commcuci.-d at 7 o'clock, and for some time Sydney and Wellington spoke together to gain an assurance of good contact when the time came to cut out all others, and tap London. At last the way was clear, and Sydney put through Wellington's first "toll" call to London. > "Hullo, George."

Those in the room waited anxiously for several minutes, and then the beil at the elbow of the Acting-Prime Minister rang. Mr Ransom lifted the receiver and said "Hullo, George, how are you?" Quite clearly the voice at the other end came back, "Hullo, good morning!'' For a little while conversation was carried on with difficulty, but Mr Ransom was able to tell the Prime Minister about a cable he had received from London that morning. Then communication become better, and Mr Forbes informed his listener that he had just returned from Scotland, and that the weather had been very cold. Everyone in the party was well, he said, and they were looking forward to leaving for New Zealand. "What is the time over there?" Mr Ransom asked, and the reply came: "Twenty minutes to nine in the morning." The clock in the room, twelve hours ahead of London, showed* the identical hour. A few brief moments' conversation then took place between Mr Forbes and Sir Apirana Ngata, who greeted his chief with: "Is that you, George? Tenakoe!" Reception was becoming increasingly better, and Mr Forbeg's voice from London sounded round the room as he returned the greeting. He asked if everything was well in New Zealand, and he received the reply: "Keitepai." Sir Thomas Sidey then came to the telephone, and Sir Apirana said: "Hullo, Sidey! Attorney-General herel" Sir Apirana is acting in that capacity" during the absence of Sir Thomas. Tie Winner of the Cup. A few persona] questions were exchanged. Mr F. D. Thomson, permanent head of the Prime Minister's Department, asked what horse had won the New Zealand Cup, and he was told th". the winner was Nightmareh. Fpr n \rly an hour others in the room spoke to those of their family in London. An interesting few minutes' conversation was held between Mr C. A. Berendsen, head of the External Affairs Department, who accompanied the Prime Minister, and his two small sons. Mrs Ransom also spoke to Mrs Forbes, and Sir Thomas Sidey and Lady Sidey to their son. Mr Forbes then returned to the telephone, and he spoke briefly to the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, whom he told that he had visited Smithfield as well as other places identified with the marketing of New Zealand produce. The Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, then spoke to Mr Forbes. Mr J. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelt&n, also spoke with the Prime Minister. It Was almost 9.30 when the receiver was hung up, and Mr Forbes was told that it was intended to put him on to his home at Cheviot. Congratulations. i Wellington wag then cut out, and Mr Ransom congratulated Mr J. Robertson, Assistant-Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, and his staff, upon the success of the tests. Mr

Robertson said that his staff had worked hard, and they had to bo thankful that conditions had proved so good. PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS WITH FAMILY. After the more or leas official trials of the system, in which Mr Forbes spoke with his friends at Parliament House, Mr and Mrs Forbes spoke with members of their family at Cheviot for nearly half an hour. The call came from GBP (Rugby) at about 9.15 p.m. It wa* received by VLW (Wellington) and transmitted by the Cook Strait telephone through the Christehurch Exchange and through the Cheviot Exchange to Mr and Mrs Forbes'a house. The return speech was transmitted by VLW to 2ME (Sydney), from which it was picked up by GBP. The communication ended at about 9.45 p.m. After a little early difficulty the speakers at each end were able to hear and recognise the voices at the other end as easily as in an ordinary telephone conversation. (The call was received on short wave b" Mr Athol Gledhill, 2 Antigua street, Christehurch.) . RADIO TELEPHONE TO AUSTRALIA. SERVICE OPENS NEXT WEEK. SUITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—B* KLICTBIC TELEGRAPH —COPTBIQHT.* (Received November 19th, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 18. The final tests of the wireless telephone between Australia and New Zealand aro now being made, and it is ex-

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19301119.2.87

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 11

Word Count
884

TOLL CALL TO LONDON. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 11

TOLL CALL TO LONDON. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 11