ACROSS THE STRAIT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 12 September 1921, Page 7

ACROSS THE STRAIT

PROSPECTS OF SPEAKING WIRE-

LESS LIKELY.

(BY TELEGRAPH —FttESS ASSOCIATION.) "WELLINGTON, Sep. 10. Repotting to the Postmasetr-Goneral on his recent visit to Europe and America, the Chief Telegraph Engineer, Mr A. E. Shrimpton, diseussos tne subject of telephonic communication between the North and South Islands. He expresses tho ojjinion that wireless telephony will provide a practical proposition for the opening up of an inter-island telephone service. There are two mediums by which a toil service can be established between the North and South Islands, says Mr Shrimpton. These are (1) a submarine cable, (2) wireless. If such a service is opened to the public* at least three channels must be available, i.e., provision made for three pairs of persons to hold 'Simultaneous conversations. After referring to the experiments being made by experts in many parts of the world, especially in America, Mr Shrimpton says: "The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is laying what I shall call mystery cables from Key to Cuba. These cables are to provide telephone and telegraph facilities, and are not metallic for the whole of the distance, about one hundred miles, but have an uninsulated return for the greater portion of their lengths. The insulated portion is continuously loaded. The cables are being manufactured in England. The first one was expected to be laid in February. What the American Telephone and Telegraph Company expects to get out of these cables has not been disclosed by its engineers. Indeed, from what I heard in America I believe exactly what facilities thoso extraordinary cables will provide is really unknown, and will only be determined after they are laid and tried out. I certainly would recommend deferring the consideration of laying submarine teleohone cables across Cook Strait until the result of these Cuban cables is known. The cost of such cables will be considerably less than the class of cables usually considered essential for telephone purposes under such waters as in the Strait. Specifications are being prepared for three or four Channel wireless telephone installations for working from Wellington to Blenheim and Christchurch, and when these are ready they will be submitted to one or two companies specialising in such equipment. The results will be communicated to the Minister with a recommendation. Mr Shrimpton also recommends charging for telephone service by an area rate in place of "a rate based on conductor length of circuit, or, as it is termed, the nearest practicable route now in existence in New Zealand.