EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18859, 11 May 1923, Page 8

EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS

IMPERIAL WIRELESS CHAIN DIFFICULTIES OF THE PROPOSAL. PreM Association —By Tolegrapb—Copyrlgat y LONDON, May a. The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says: "Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Postmaster-general), in carrying out the Government’s recently-declared policy in favour of both the Post Office and private enterprise providing direct wireless communication with India and the dominions, is encountering difficulties. Sir W. Joyn-son-Hicks has been conferring with the Marconi Company with a view to its cooperation with the Government in conducting Empire wireless, but no solution has been reached. The company has contracts for the provision of high-power stations in Great Britain, and with Canada, South Africa, and Australia. These are not variable without the dominions’ consent. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks wants to establish effective competition between the Post Office and private enterprise. A partnership with the Marconi Company on the Australian plan is ruled out, as anything like a monopoly is be yond discussion. There remain two courses firstly, regional division ; secondly, centralised control by cooperation. It would not be advantageous to try to separate the Empire from the world’s wireless. The only alternative appears to be the co-operation and centralisation of all wireless. Unless practical decisions are speedily wireless, instead of being a factor in Empire unity, may become a source of irritation and misunderstanding.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. - PACIFIC CABLE DUPLICATION. NEW TYPE TO BE INSTALLED.' SYDNEY, May 10. Mr J. A. Milward (manager in Australia of the Pacific Cable Board) pys that the duplication of the cable from Canada to Fiji is held up pending the tests of a new cable which is calculated considerably to increase the speed of transmission and to bring about a reduction in rates. The new cable is expected to increase the present carrying capacity at least eight times. Tho tests had proved successful, and all cable companies recognised that the new type of cable would bring about a revolution in cable telegraphy. Mr Milward added that while he admitted wireless would , play .an important part in connection' with strategic purposes it was not feared commercially m the near future. In any case, if commercial wireless were developed, the cable concerns hoped by an ultimate reduction in rates successfully to compete against it.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NEW CABLES DUE SHORTLY. SYDNEY, May 10. The steamer Stephen is shortly to arrive from London. She has on board two new cables for tho Pacific Cable Co. One is for the Southport-Sydney line, and the other for the Suva-Auckland section. As the routes have already been surveyed, tho work of laying the cables will be started shortly after the vessel's arrival. This message clears up • a misunderstanding tha't was created by a recent erroneous message from Vancouver stating that the duplication of the Pacific cable from Canada was to be undertaken in July. The duplication of the sections between Sydney and Auckland and Auckland and Fiji is to be commenced in July, and tho first portion will be completed in August.