RADIO COMPETITION.

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 6

RADIO COMPETITION.

Proposed Amalgamation. WITH CABLE COY. BRIGHT ’S OPPOSITION. 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 Pacific cable scheme in 1897, in an article in the “Evening Standard” likens the cable scare of beam wireless competition to gas shareholders, when supply' was initiated, lie points out that Governments in the early days heavily subsidised cable companies. For instance, Australia paid the Eastern £32,41)0 yearly from 1579 to 1899. Surely it was partly with an eye on future /competition 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.