EMPIRE WIRELESS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 6

EMPIRE WIRELESS

DISPUTE EXPLAINED MINISTER NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PROSPECTS. CABLES NOT SUPPLANTED. By Telegraph.— Assn.— Copyright. Reutov’s Telegram. LONDON, October 17. Yn his statement to the Economic Conference, Sir L. Worthington Evans lifted the veil from the wileless controversy. He declared that differences had arisen between the Government and the Marconi stations. An agreement was practically reached last July, but the company had now changed its mind, and had rejected the arrangement. In the meantime, the Government was hurrying on the completion of its station, which would be in operation before the end of next year. Incidentally he expressed the opinion that in its present state wireless did not provide either as accurate, reliable, or swift communication as cables. Moreover it was open to interception, and therefore he did not share the enthusiasm that wireless would supplant cables: it would only supplement them. Nevertheless, he was convinced that there were enormous potentialities for improvement, and that an up-to-date wireless service would improve the existing capacity of communications, and would tend ultimately to a reduction of rates. DIVISION OF SERVICES. The breakdown of the agreement had supervened, notwithstanding the fact that he had acceded to the company’s strong preference for a pooling system, despite his own dislike for it. He therefore regretted that the Marconi Company’s action at the last moment had caused unjustifiable delay. He did not, however, wish to press the scheme of joint working if they were definitely opposed to it, and he now indicated that the Government was prepared to divide the services on a regional basis. For example, the service to Canada and South Africa could he conducted by the Government station. while the'Marconi station would handle the Indian and Australian traffic. The Minister declared that it was essential that in sacrificing its statutory monopoly, the Government should reserve sufficient commercial traffic for its station to operate. The Government station would be not less efficient than the Marconi, and he hoped that the Canadian and South African Governments would see their way to concur in the proposal he was making. There were prospects of a more freouent Australian mail service when the P. and O. Company completed the four ehips it was at present constructing, but tho question remained whether the passenger and cargo traffic would be sufficient to repay the cost of more l frequent sailings. CABLES AND CABLE RATES. Regarding the difficulties of teleghaphically bridging the Pacific, he pointed out that experiments had been carried out in regard to instituting wireless between Vancouver, Fiji, and Fanning Island. The result of these was that the Pacific Cable Board would be able to decide whether wireless or duplication of the cable was the more promising policy. He declared that the Commonwealth Government has the right to require the Eastern Extension Cable Company to reduce the rate to Britain to 2s 6d a word. ■He appealed to Mr Stanley Bruce to examine the question of reducing the high terminal rate of fivepence a word charged in Australia on all traffic. This charge, he said, was inconsistent with the Government’s avowed policy of cheap communication. SUCCESS JMPOSSIBLE UNDER STATE’S CONDITIONS. COMPANY’S REPLY. Reuter’s Telegram. (Received October 18, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. Mr Godfrey Isaac*, managing director of Marconi’s Wireless Co., Ltd., in a lengthy reply to Sir L. Worthington Evano, declares it is impossible for the company to secure commercial and technical success with the services under tho conditions advanced by the Post-master-General. He contends that wireless is more accurate, swifter, and fully as reliable as cables. Moreover, Uie latest developments have conferred secrecy. He concludes that if the PostmasterGeneral will consent, to a pooling arrangement under which the company may manage its own business, a contract oati be signed in a few days, or even if ho will grant one exclusive license for which the company has applied, the company’s station can be opened well before the end of 1924. NEW STATIONS IN INDIA Reuter’s Telegram DELHI, October 17. Advices from Bombay state that a wireless company formed for the purpose of erecting a high-power station in India has been registered under the name of Indian-Radio Telegraph Company, Limited, with a capital of 30 million rupees.