WIRELESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 August 1924, Page 5

WIRELESS

PLANS FOR AUSTRALIA

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

(Received Aug. 23, 10.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 23. Mr Bruce, in moving the second reading of the Wireless Agreement Bill, said the British Government had recommended Australia to proceed with the beam system, and at the same time carry* on with the high power station, but the Federal Ministry had decided that it- would be a mistake to proceed with anything by a beam station. Under the old agreement it would cost half a million to erect a high power station to provide a service, and under the new agreement tlie capital cost would not exceed £120,000. He believed it would be considerably less. The new agreement stipulated a service of fifty words a minute for a seven-hour day, three days a year, against 20—12—300 under the old agreement. The Amalgamated Wireless had been released from its obligation to provide high power reciprocal stations in Britain and Canada, and thus they* would only control the service from tlie Australian end, while the other end would be controlled by the British Government. Mr Gibson was now negotiating with the British Government regarding the costs, and if successful the rates would be: Full rate 2s, deferred Is; weke-end rates, 6d, Government Is, press sd, deferred press 3d. The service should be operaitng in nine or ten months. Tlie debate was adjourned.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.