WIRELESS MESSAGES

Evening Star, Issue 19637, 17 August 1927, Page 5

WIRELESS MESSAGES

THE BEAM SERVICE fading difficulties. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyrijat, SYDNEY, August IG. The ‘Suit,’ commenting on the beam wireless .service, declares: “It is not treating the public iairly by its silence. 11 is leading its patrons to believe that it is handling all the traffic entrusted to it. The fact, however, is that it fades out for many hours daily, and that a great many of its messages have to bo transferred to the Eastern or Pacific cables. The cable companies accept this traffic only at their customary rates, and “ beam ” lias to pay nut of its own to meet the difference bet wen “beam” and cable charges. This indirectly touches the pocket of every taxpayer. What, however, is of more moment is that “beam” has happy-go-lucky habits which are fraught with most dangerous consequences to the commercial community. Messages scut from London do not always reach Australia, hut a charge is automatically made lor them all the same.” The Sun’ adds: “‘Hearn’ is supposed to ho a. public utility, rendering a public service. This should mean candor, even though some declension of revenue might temporarily result.” MELBOURNE, August IG. Mr It. P. Brown, Director of Postal Services, when interviewed regarding Sunday’s London cablegram dealing with the disabilities of the “beam” system, said that fading must always be Liken into account. So far as the Commonwealth was concerned. “ beam ” was fnltilling its agreement, and it was handling the traffic the Government gave it, with the exception of a little which it sent over the cables at night.