VOICES ACROSS THE OCEAN

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 12

VOICES ACROSS THE OCEAN

Radio Telephone Spans Tasman NEW SYSTEM INAUGURATED “Nearer Than Hands or Feet”

Weirdly, out of the ocean wastes that separate the two isolated outposts of the Empire, came voices from Australia, reaching to the heart of Wellington, when the trans-Tasman radio telephone service was officially-opened yesterday. The voices, swelling into clearness across 1200 miles, were answered by other voices in a nieans of conversation won by another marvellous development in radio communication. The success of the system revealed to listeners a valuable avenue for trade, commerce, social .amenities and international understanding. Space was annihilated and the ocean spanned in a breath. A deparbmental officer present said it was hoped ultimately to place 99 per cent of the world’s telephones at the service of New Zealand subscribers.

At a public ceremony in the afternoon, which was held in the Jacobean room at Kirkcaldje and Stains, there was an attendance of about fifty, Each listener was provided with a separate earphone, through which the conversations were heard with remarkable clarity. Memorable Occasion. “I think you will agree with me that the opening of this service is indeed a memorable occasion,” said Mr. G. Robertson, New Zealand manager for Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd., in opening the proceedings. “To fling the human voice over one thousand miles of ocean and to reproduce it faithfully through all the variations of atmosphere, is a wonderful achievement and must rank as such in this age of wonderful achievements.” The apparatus in use must be thoroughly up to date, delicate as a human organ and efficient to stand up to the work, he said. Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd. was very proud of being the one to install it. Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director of the company, had overcome many difficulties in the way of wireless telephony; he had determined to succeed in spite of them, and in the last year or two his efforts had been crowned with success. Normally, the company, ’ as a world-wide practice, supplied with the apparatus the necessary engineers, but in the present case it had not hesitated to leave the technicalities to the engineers of the Post and Telegraph Depart of New Zealand. The department had got 100 per cent, service from the apparatus, although the job was very much larger than anything handled before. Those engineers were New Zealanders born and bred, and the fact that they had not needed outside assistance had caused much comment. Instrument of Nations. “We become accustomed to the achievements of our scientific men, not only throughout the British Empire but throughout the world; nevertheless one cannot fail to be impressed with the importance of an occasion such as this,” said the Hon. W. A. Veitch on behalf of the Government. The' occasion was important not not only as a technical accomplishment in the science of telephony but for its vast possibilities in other directions, namely, for assisting the spreading of peace, harmony and goodwill'among the nations of the world. When Britain began in her early stages to develop her power and her greatness, her success undoubtedly lay in the fact that she controlled communications, and by her shipping extended her trade to the nations of the world. That wonderful altruistic ideal, the good of all the world, was recognised then as now as the foundation principle that guided the .Empire in all its achievements. Britain was still the greatest nation of the world in the matter of developing and advancing communications. The world looked to Britain, and would not look to her in. vain, to exercise her power and influence in the interests of peace, harmony and prosperity among all the nations of the world. “If we look upon the achievements oi our Empire up to to-day in that light, we may well give vent to our imagination as to what such a great nation inspired with such high ideals may achieve in the use of the amazing inventions of our scientific and technical men,” said the Minister. “We begin to-day by sending kindly messages of goodwill to our brothers across the Tasman Sea, and I venture to say that as the years go by this method of communication, which carries with it sound and the human voice, will ultimately become a great organisation which will be used to make friends for the- British Empire in every corner of the earth.”

Speaking to Mr. Fisk later by radiophone, Mr. Veitch said that the distance between the two countries was the only thing between them. British people were proud of the fact that they could build together and face common difficulties. The ideals that had inspired the sons of both Australia and New Zealand in the Great War would not be forgotten in these times, and that would be an inspiration to establish a new Britannia on the Southern Seas, of which Australia and New Zealand would be component parts. Trade, Commerce, Kinship.

Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director of Amalgamated Wireless, speaking from Sydney, sent greetings to New Zealand. He said Australia and New Zealand were isolated British communities in the Pacific Ocean, and it was a great pleasure to take part in the inauguration of a service which brought the two countries together. It was hoped that a service was being done to the two countries, assisting their trade and commerce, enhancing social relations, and helping the Press. He congratulated the officers of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, and expressed friendship and goodwill as between two outposts of the Empire. Mr. G. McNamara, Secretary of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, in replying, said he hoped business men would appreciate that the telephone was something that had come to stay, and would use it to the fullest extent, Mr. A. Gibbs, chief telegraph engineer of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, talking to Mr. Fisk, said the department was very pleased with the manner in which the apparatus had operated : it had given a first-class account of itself. It was hoped to so extend the system- that 99 per cent, of the world’s telephones would be placed at the' service of New Zealand subscribers. Several calls were put through by business men present, although pleasantries rather than business matters were discussed.

Those present at the ceremony were: The Hon. W. A. Veitch; Mr. P. Verschaffelt, Public Service Commissioner; Amalgamated Wireless, Messrs. G. Robertson, N.Z. Manager A.W.A., F. W. Larkins, special representative A.W.A. from Sydney: Post and Telegraph Department. Messrs. G. McNamara, A. Gibbs. J. R. Smith, E. C. Hands, J. McDermott, E. H. Lawn; Chamber of Commerce, Mr. D. J. McGowan, president: Sir Henry Buckleton (Bank of New Zealand), Messrs. R. C. Addison and T. B. Heath (Bank of New South Wales), W. F, L. Ward (Bank of Australasia): shipping companies, Messrs. A. W. Wheeler (Union Steam Ship Co. of N.Z., Ltd.): Captain Haig. Vacuum Oil Co.; W. Preedy. director Gollin and Co. Pty., Ltd.: H. Thomas, general manager, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ltd.; W. V. Watson, general manager, Colyer. Watson and Co.; T. D. Davys, managing director, Derbvshires. Ltd.; H. Nimmo, Hamilton Nlmmo and Sons,’ Ltd’.; L. G. Porter, Rosenfeld and Co.. Ltd.; P. R. Baillie, P. R. Baillie and Co.; J. M. A. Hott, governing director, J. Hott, Ltd.; E. O. Taylor, manager, British General Electric Co.; H. L. G. Ilolthouse, Joseph Pickles and Son, Ltd.; E. A. Sevier, general manager. Vacuum Oil Co. Pty., Ltd.; W. A. McCutcheon, Western Electric Co.. Ltd.; S. Klrkcaldle, Kirkcaldie and Stains; A. B. Lane. N.Z. Press Association; Mr. Oscar Garden. Official Conversations. The inauguration of the service was marked by a preliminary conversation between the Minister of Native Affairs, Sir

r Apirana Ngata, representing the New Zea« land Government, and the Acting-Prims Minister of Australia, Mr. Fenton. Sil Apirana Ngata was connected through to Sydney from the Cabinet room in Parliament House, those present including Mr. G. McNamara, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department; Mr. A. Gibbs, chief telegraph engineer, and Mr. E. H. Lawn, of the telegraph engineer’s office. Sir Apirana opened the conversation with a Maori greeting. “I hope you understand Maori over there in Australia,” he said. “Mr. Ransom, our Acting-Prime Minister, is away from duty just now, and lam taking his place. I understand thia is the first official communication over the air between our two countries. As you know, Mr. Forbes is away in London, and, of course, Mr. Scullin is there also. “We send you greetings from New Zealand, and we are cognisant of the importance of this occasion and the official opening up of communication by radiophone. When Mr. Forbes comes back we will be able to consider an interchange of visits. We expect Mr. Forbes back at the end of January. “You are having a hard time over there, and so are we over here, but I think we shall manage to pull all right. Greetings. to you. Good-by j.” “I very cordially return your greetings, and I am equally pleased to be able to take part in what is probably the most important event that has been celebrated across the Tasman,” said Mr. Fenton. “Our two countries have a great deal in common, and this telephone link that has been established between us will give us far more facilities than we have possessed before for working together towards the common good. “I am sure we shall derive very great benefits, both socially and commercially, from this new avenue of communication that has been opened up. Although we are having a hard time over here in Australia, we are quite' satisfied that we shall pull through satisfactorily, and that before long conditions will. begin to improve. “No doubt you are doing' your best over there to produce plenty of butter, cheese, and lamb, and other of your important products. We are doing our best here in Australia in the same direction, and are quite satisfied that things will before long assume their normal proportions.” FIRST BUSINESS CALL How Link is Established Although the new trans-Tasman radio telephone opened officially for business yesterday, most of the day. was occupied in demonstration and invitation calls. Two business calls were sent to Sydney from Wellington at schedule charges, while six people in Australia “rang up” friends or business acquaintances in th« Dominion. The first business call from New Zealand to Australia’ was booked by Mr. W. A McCutcheon, of Wellington, director of the Western Electric Company (N.Z.). Ltd. He” spoke to Mr. J. H. Barker, managing director of the company in Sydney. Mrs. Barker, who is in Wellington, spoke to her husband. This initial eall occupied six minutes. The caller on the radiophone finds it hard to picture the elaborate processes ill the transmission of his voice. The link from New Zealand to London i»

doubly complicated. As one speaks into the subscribers’ ordinary telephone the conversation is transmitted from the New Zealand station at .Tinakori Hills, Wellington, and received at the Sydney switching terminal of Amalgamated Wireless at La Perouse, Sydney; from there it is transferred to the transmitting centre at Pennant Hills, Sydney, to be received at the Baldock receiving station in England. It is then automatically transferred to the London terminal, to be heard by the English subscriber on his ordinary house telephone. Conversation from England is relayed through the terminal switchboard at London to Rugby transmitting station, and is then transmitted to the receiving station at La Perouse. From here the conversation is switched via the mixing panel to the transmitting centre of Amalgamated Wireless at Pennant Hills, Sydney. and then transmitted to the New Zealand receiving station at Wellington to lie passed on to the subscribers’ home telephone. • The telephony, equipment at Wellington station comprises a 5 k.w. wireless telegraph and telephone transmitter. The inauguration of this service brings all parts of the Domiqjon in telephonic communication with the Australian telephone system and with the telephone network of Groat Britain, and in due course an extension of the service will be effected with the Continent. “KNIT TOGETHER” Further Conversations By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Rec. November 25, 10 p.m.) Sydney, November 25. Further conversations this afternoon were marked by very clear reception. Messrs. Fisk and McNamara exchanged congratulations and a number of citizens engaged in brief conversations, the general import of which was an expression of pleasure that this added link of communication would tend to bring the peoples of the Commonwealth and the Dominion into closer touch and knit them together in matters in which both were vitally concerned. A loud-speaker conveyed the New Zealand speakers’ remarks -to an interested group of listeners.