MODERN TELEGRAPHY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19606, 7 April 1927, Page 14

MODERN TELEGRAPHY.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. RAPID ADVANCE PREDICTED, | DIRECT WORD SERVICES. TELEPHONING TO AUSTRALIA. * ' « Wonderful progress in the facilities for telegraphic communication within the next 25 years is prophesied by Mr. Donald Mufray, the in\ r fentor of the Murray multiplex telegraphic machine, who is at present visiting Auckland. Mr. Murray, after being absent from New Zealand for 35 years, has, with Mrs. Murray, just completed a two-months' holiday tour of the Dominion. The Murray multiplex machine has been installed in most parts of the world, stated Mr. Murray. The time was coming when large firms would be able to correspond direct with other- firms in other towns merely by the manipulation of a special typewriter. Post offices would be equipped with automatic devices for these direct connections. A girl in one office would be able to type a message and it would be printed simultaneously on a machine in the office to which the message was sent.. Then a reply could be sent immediately. Mr. Murray contends that .this system will be more accurate, more convenient and much more economic than the present telephone system. "Telegraphic communication in America is already developing along these lines," Mr. Murray stated. "The tendency is to cut out telegraph operators and telegraph offices, and these are being supplanted by automatic equipment. Several large American firms have equipment which enables them to &end their messages direct to the post offices. From there they are transmitted to their destinations. Imagine the wofk already saved. In a few years in America direct telegraphic communication will be established, but it will be 25 years before New Zealand has advanced to such a degree." Across the Tasman Sea. Another interesting prediction of Mr. Murray's is that in a few years telephonic communication will be established between New Zealand and Australia. "Telephonic communication has already been established between London and New York," he said. "Think how much easier this would be between the Dominion and Australia. The distance is less than half and thefe is not nearly the same telegraphic or wireless traffic across the Tasman Sea. Yes, you will be able to .call Melbourne or Sydney and will be able to hear quite plainly." Mr. Murray says he is greatly surprised with the efficiency of New Zealand post offices. He has inspected the post offices of Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland. The buildings were clean and business-like, while the organisation seemed to be splendid—all factors which pointed to efficiency. He was more favourably impressed with our post office system than with any other he had seen. One important reason for this efficiency seemed to be the system of promotion by competitive examination. The telegraphic service was very cheap and it seemed to be much in demand. " The Auckland Chief Post Office is quite as big as the post office at Rio de Janeiro, a city with a population of one and a-half millions," continued Sir. Murray. "it is also much busier, and this in spite of the fact that- Brazil has a population of something like 30,000,000." Murray Machine in New Zealand. Speaking of the Murray multiplex in New Zealand, Mr. Murray said one wire connected Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and several mesgages could be transmitted simultaneously. For instance, eight independent messages could be sent simultaneously between Wellington and Auckiand. The Government realised the importance of the machine and was extending its network of them. A machine was now established at Wanganui, and Napier and New Plymouth would shortly be brought in. As an instance of the widespread uses of the machine, Mr. Murray stated that communication through the machine was nowestablished between Eio de Janeiro and Belem, a place 2700 miles away, on the Amazon. Mr. and Mrs. Murray will remain a further two or three weeks in Auckland Province and will then proceed to Sydney. They will probably then journey to New Guinea if suitable arrangements can be made.