WIRELESS NEWS SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17982, 26 December 1918, Page 5

WIRELESS NEWS SERVICE.

CANTERBURY SHOULD MOVE.

; TO THE EDITOR. j Sir,—lt is reported that Major-' General M'Ra'e has prepared a memo* rand urn for 'the immediate establishment of an inter-Imperial wireless news service to cover all parts of the Enif pi re and furnish all newspapers, vim the world's news at very low cost% He proposes that Britain in conjunction with tho dominions and colonies "begin the construction of a British "Round the World" news wireless, with allstations within the Empire. The gross ignorance displayed by some people in New Zealand about the affairs and conditions in other parts of the world,,and vice versa, the even greater ignorance displayed by outside people of the affairs and conditions prevailing in New Zealand, are most deplorable. Education and the spread of knowledge if one of the first duties of a nation's government and the sooner this very excellent idea is brought into existence the better. ■' Through the telegraph wires being down Canterbury from time to time has been - cut off from the outside u-orld—the experience during the snowstorm being a recent example. I would suggest that a strong effort be made by the people of Canterbury to' have a high powered wireless station erected in or near Christchurch—a plant capable of communication with London and other such capitals. The Hon H. F. AVigram, through whose commendable enterprise the School of Aviation was established, together with the newly formed Progress League, might be.induced to take this matter np. Although Canterbury was geographically and in many other respects eminently suited for at least one military camp the province was entirely ignored in this direction by the Government. The circulation of hundreds of thousands of pounds was thus denied Christchurch, and congested Wellington, and tho proprietors of the ferry service were in consequence greatlyenriched. From a military, efficiency, and national point of view Canterbury was entitled to a camp, The loss v of same-was caused largely by the inertia of the Christchurch people in publhj affairs, and the matter is here referred to simply to show that no matter how good a province's claim or case may be, unless tho citizens are active and united and boost for themselves Canterbury will be sadly left behind in tho march'of tho Dominion's progress. It ; is to be hoped that a big attempt will be made to get a high powered wireless station established. here.—l am, etc., '• , M.V-' Christchurch, December 24, 1918,