WIRELESS & CABLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1928, Page 7

WIRELESS & CABLES

TO RESTRICT COMPETITION •Australian amt N.Z. Cable Association? LONDON, January 12. A. “Financial Times” contributor hints at the possible solution of forming a. company covering both wireless and cable, interests. Ho suggests that if the two systems were under one direction, either could be used so that the traffic -could be directed in the quickest and most economical way, while the saving in working costs might be a million sterling annually.

AMALGAMATION OPPOSED LONDON, January 13. Sir Charles Bright, consulting engineer, who has been engaged on a number of cable laying expeditions, and who reported to the Colonial Office on the Pactilic cable scheme in 1897, in an article in the “Evening Standard” likens the cable scare of beam wireless competition to gas shareholders, wjien electric supply was initiated. He points out that Governments in the early days heavily subsidised cable companies. For instance, Australia paid the Eastern £32,400 yearly from 1879 -to 1599. Surely it was partly with, an eye on future competition that cable companies have built up large reserves. Experience has' shown that cable company amalgamations and working agreements have not been advantageous to the public, tending to keep up rates. What is needed, especially from the inter-imperial trade standpoint, is more British cables offering alternative routes, and more wireless stations actually competing with cables. Thus we should secure a reduction in rates long needed in the interests of the public and a. more effective Press service between the Mother Country and the Dominions.