PENNY A WORD

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1928, Page 10

PENNY A WORD

/ CHEAPER WIRELESS. ADVOCATED-BY SENATOR THOMAS. SYDNEY, This Day. Cheaper wireless communication between Australia and Groat Britain, ureforably at the rate of Id per word, was advocated by Senator Josiab Thomas, formerly Postmaster-General, in an address to members of the Millions Club. He expressed the opinion that it would not only help to foster migration to Australia by allowing the migrant to beep in constant touch- with his people, but would assist in the preservation of world'peace, and tend to strength the bonds of Empire, "There is n'o other agency today which is capable of so speedily xnouldj ing our great Empire into a living j reality as wireless,” Senator Thomas declared, "Does anyone doubt That if 50,000,000 words a year were flashed from Australia to England, and 50,000,000 words flung bach —a number of these millions dealing with matters jof State, some with the Empire ’s j trade and commerce, but, the overwhelming majority with matters connected with the social life of the people—it would not create a public opinion that would make it possible for those who are called to guide our destinies to fulfil their visions; -and would not that public opinion create an atmosphere that would tend to mutual i goodwill I” i In Australia, Senator Thomas added, I a wireless plant had been erected at a i cost of £120,000, and Avas capable of j sending 80,000,000 Avords a year. The j existing maintenance coat Avas £BO,OOO j n year. To send ,25,000,000 words a j year at .Id a AAxird would bring in, j £14,000 per year, and the extra cost I Avould not be great, not nearly pro- ! portionate to the increased value of j the sendee. I At present a charge jof 2d a Avord ' Avas made on all wireless nnossages dci livcred from the receiving stations by telegraph. It Avas a flat rate fixed by i the Telegraph Convention, of which | England was a member. This Arasadifi ficulty AA'liieh Avould have to be faced before a message eoubl bo despatched for Id a word, and it could be -got over by the Empire dropping out of ; the convention as America had done, ilt did not suit the Empire to be a j member.