EMPIRE WIRELESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 9

EMPIRE WIRELESS.

INERTIA IN BRITAIN.

INDUSTRY IN 1 DANGER.

PUBLIC INTEREST REVIVING

[from our own correspondent.] LONDON. Feb. 1. In a further article regarding Empire wireless in the Observer, a " wireless expert'' declares that unless there is an immediate change in the attitude of the bureaucrats the wireless industry in this country will be shut down, and our wireless organisations will devote themselves to the building up of their industry in. countries where the Governments are more enlightened. " Imperial Conferences," says the writer, " were a great step forward. They were the outward and visible expression of a common spiritual union. But Imperial Conferences cannot take the place of the daily bread of Empire. It is the daily •bread of a common understanding that wireless communications alone can provide. i If the effect of official inertia in this matter is so dangerous to Imperial strength it is also disastrous to the industrial position of this country. More and more, international trade depends on skilful propaganda. For propaganda of any kind the cable is useless. Wireless is ideal. We have allowed the United States, France, and Germany to saturate with their wireless propaganda, and without any challenge from us, the great maike 9 of South. America and of the Far East. There is another serious consideration. The continuance of official obstruction will not only deprive the Empire of cheap and swift communication, but it will drive out of Great Britain 6. promising industry. This point was ma Je by the Federation of British Industries in the very important resolution _ which they recently sent to the Prime Minister. " While I feel.it my duty to warn the country of the daggers of the continuance of the present state of things, I am not without hope that wiser counsels are prevailing among those who are advising the Government-. The past few weeks have seen a remarkable revival of public interest and public indignation. The Federation of British Industries, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, and the Empire Press Union, have joined in the demand that an end shall ba made of bureaucratic obstruction, and free play given to the private .enterprise of our wireless organisations. Except for some pathetic efforts of the Post Office Publicity Department, not a discordant voice has been raised in the Home press. The press of India and of the Dominions has been equally unanimous. In the face of so conspicuous a demonstration I cannot believe that His Majesty's Government will hestitate for many more days to say to its bureaucrats : ' This Empire requires such an increase in its facilities for rapid, cheap and reliable communications as only wireless can give. You have had your chance for twelve years, and have failed. The time has come to give private enterprise fair play.' " I am forced to the conclusion that the only interest wlrch has been promoted by the official attitude of the past ha* been the interest of that great monopoly of the cable companies, against which* the press and the Dominions have so often nrotested. The cable companies in the past "have rendered great Imperial service. Their methods have been enlightened and publicspirited. But their interests ought not to bo allowed to stand in the way of the march of modern science and modern invention."