WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 4 January 1910, Page 3

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S INFORMA-

TION

STATE-OWNED SYSTEM !

NECESSARY

Sir' Joseph Ward stated to a New Zealand Times represntative on Thursday nigHt that the New Zealand Government had agreed to the recommendations of i^-i Wireless Telegraphy Conference (a summary of which appeared in these columns on Thursday evening)..; He received on December 23rd the resolutions by cable from Mr Deakin, Commonwealth Prime Minister, and as an outline of these had already been cabled, he v/as at liberty to make the full details public. The resolutions were r —

(1) That, .high power wireless stations be provided, maintained, and operated at or near Sydney, Doubtless Bay (New Zealand), and Suva (Fiji). (2) That it is desirable that a system of wireless telegraphy be established to connect the groups of islands wider B.ritish protection with the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and headquarters of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific at Fiji, and that, for that purpose, it is desirable that in addition to those named in resolution No. 1, wireless stations be established at Tulagi (Solomon islands), Ocean Island and Vila (New Hebrides). (3) That, having heard the repre-r sentative of the Radio Telegraph Company in regard to his company's proposals, the conference does not feel jiistified in recommending the Governments concerned that the concessions asked for be granted. .

(4) That it is desirable that any service of wireless telegraphy established to serve the requirements of the British Western Pacific be established and- inaintained tinder direct State control, or through a State agency. (5) That the high-power stations recommended be of such a capacity that the station at Sydney be capable of communicating with Doubtless Bay, and Doubtless Bay capable of communicating with Fiji. That they shall be able to receive and transmit waves ;up to 6000 f.eet, in addition to ordinary commercial waves. '■;■ .

(6) That medium-power stations be established at Vila (New Hebrides), and at Tulagi (Solomon Islands), the cost of the establish-

ment at those places to be borne two-thirds by. the Imperial Govern-

ment and one-third by the Com-

monwealth of Australia, the losses on working expenses and other annual" charges to be met by the Governments named in the same proportion. The question of co-opera-tion by the French Government in the ! establishment: of the New Hebrides station to be left for consideration and action by the Imperial Government. (7) Cost of the:; establishment of

the high power station at Fiji to be borne in the following proportions: Imperial '^fofernment, onethird; Australia, one-fourth'; New Zealand, one-sixth; Fiji, onefourth. And that any loss on the working expenses and other annual charges be borne by the respective Governments in the same proportion, subject to an additional con-

tributipn being made by the Government of Fiji, if the station is used in connection with the local Fiji system. ": ' ; ,.

(8) That a station be established at Ocean Island capable of continuous communication with Fiji, and that its cost be borne in.the following proportion: Imperial Government, two-thirds; Commonwealth Government, one-third. Establish-

ment of this station to be subject to the Pacific Phosphates Company guaranteeing the contributors

against loss on working expenses and all other annual charges, including sinking fund. ;..,

(9) That the schemes of, wireless telegraphy in the : islands of the Western Pacific, as recommended by the conference, be embodied in an agreement to be arrived at by the Governments desiring to, take part therein, and that the agreement should provide for the executive control and management of such work by the High Commis-

sion'er and the Government of Fiji. Under the complete scheme as proposed and outlined in these i*esolutions the financial obligation for, capital expenditure would be distributed as follows: — ... ■ • £ Imperial Government for stations at Suva, Ocean Is- j land, New Hebrides, and Solomon Islands ... ... 21,332 Commonwealth Government for same stations ... ... 11,666 Fiji for station at Suva only 3000 New Zealand, for station at Suva only ... ... 2000