EMPIRE WIRELESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19020, 16 November 1923, Page 5

EMPIRE WIRELESS

DELAY STRONGLY DEPRECATED. ITS IMPORTANCE EMPHASISED. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyrigit LONDON, November.l4. In a speech which lie delivered at the Economic Conference on November 9 in connection with wireless communications, Air Bruce said ho did not share the view of Canada and South Africa that the question of the wireless and operating stations to be established in Britain was a matter for the British Government alone. He maintained that it was a great Imperial question. Effective communication was vital to the Empire. Rapidity of communication was perhaps the most serious consideration. hailing that, many tilings they were attempting to do at the conference in the matter of trade would inevitably not be realisable. If a greatly increased service of news could be provided much would he done in the direction of getting greater unity of thought in the Empire. Furthermore, efficient and cheap wireless would promote migration by enabling the migrants to maintain contact with their old associations. Cables wcre a serious drawback from a defence viewpoint, owing to tne fact that they could be cut. The problem of closer Imperial consultations on foreign policy was only soluble by an improvement in communications. Other nations were despatching far more news abroad than that which Great Britain was sending ; hence the problem did not brook delay. Another serious factor was the increasing difficulty of the Empire to obtain the position it ought to hold, as wave lengths were already reserved, and more would be reserved with the constant erection of new stations. The present position was most alarming. There was only one possible sound and sane way of meeting it. * Since the British Government had decided to build a station, Australia was entitled to have a say in regard to the licenses to be issued for the erection of other stations in Britain. These should be operated under a pooling arrangement. It was imperative that the whole case should have the fullest publicity. If it was impossible thus to ascertain the facts, au impartial authority must be appointed to investigate the whole situation. When it had issued its finding no Government or outside people would be able to resist the pressure of the people of Britain and the dominions to prevent future wireless being held up because of a quarrel which apparently was at. present extraordinarily intense. • Mr Massey said it was impossible for New Zealand to do anything of much value pending definite action by Britain. He asked when the British Post Office was going to make up its mind. Mr Massey said he unhesitatingly favoured Empire control as compared with private control, and stated that it was his opinion that wireless would eventually be cheaper and more efficient than cables. He urged the authorities in Britain to bestir themselves. _ A Sir William MTntosh said that T>outh Africa, having entered into a contract, did not consider that it had any status to interfere in anything Britain might wish to do.—Reuter. THE DISPUTE WITH MARCONI’S. LONDON, November 14. (Received November 15, at 8.30 p.m.) Air C. A. Inues, on behalf of India, said that while agreeing that Britain’s wireless policy was entirely a matter for the British Government, he hoped that when India’s high-power station was erected it w r ould not be held up by the lack of adequate reciprocal arrangements in Britain. Sir L. Worthington-Evans (Postmastergeneral) declared that the British station would be opened by the end of 1924. u.e dwelt on the difficulties of reaching an agreement with the Alarconi a Company. Either the Government had to yield to the pressure from Alarconfs, which was tantamount to granting them a monopoly, or to resist it.—Reuter. (Received November 16, at 0.10 p.m.) Sir L. Worthington Evans, continuing, said that Marconi’s had not yet refused his offers to erect a Government station to communicate with South Africa and Canada, and to permit them to erect two stations for communication elsewhere in the Empire, “but," he added, “they have been putting pressure by propaganda upon all of you.” Mr Bruce interrupted, declaring that Air Marconi had never tried to influence him. Sir L. Worthington Evans: The real point is: Are we prepared to give Mr Marconi a virtual monopoly? Mr Massey: That can only be answered in the negative. Sir L. Worthington Evans added that he was confident that Air Alarconi would recognise the fairness of the Government’s offer, and that a monopoly was out of the question. Otherwise, the British Government must consider the erection of further stations, but he preferred to sec the Government and a private firm co-operating. The resolution previously cabled was adopted on the motion of Air Bruce.—A. and N.Z. Cable.