RADIO TELEPHONY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 13

RADIO TELEPHONY

VALUE T0 THE EMPIRE

MINISTERS' CONVERSATION

LONDON AND CAPETOWN HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY. Feb. 7 Ministers iff Britain and Ministers of the Union of South Africa, 6000 miles distant, delivered speeches ab the same gathering when the first radio-telephone luncheon of the Overseas League was held in London to-day. The British Ministers were the Postmaster-General, Sir Kingsley Wood, and the Dominion's Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, and the South African Ministers were Mr. C. F. Clarkson, Minister of Pests and Telegraphs, and General Hertzog.

The luncheon had been arranged in connection with the visit of the delegates to the Imperial Press Conference,' now being held in South Africa. A message received from His Majesty expressed the hope that the great discoveries made in radio-telephony would further strengthen the friendly co-op-eration and understanding between the nations of the British Empire. Slir Kingsley pointed out how necessary it is now for Ministers responsible for communications to keep abreast of the times and to think ahead. He referred to the rapid growth of radiotelephonic traffic, and to the 100 per cent increase in air mails as tokens of greater achievements in the future.

General Hertzog, referring to the improved conditions in South Africa, expressed the belief that the world's economic recoveiy was conditional upon a better understanding and goodwill among the nations, and to displacement, by mutual confidence, of the distrust and fear now so largely holding sway.

" The outcome of the recent' conversations between Britain and France seems, to me, therefore, to be a. material step in the desired direction," said General Hertzog, " And it has mostly given rise to the fervent expectation that practical commonsense, and neighbourly goodwill once more will come into their own. lis deciding factors in international relations."