EMPIRE WIRELESS CHAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 7

EMPIRE WIRELESS CHAIN

SCANDALOUS DELAYS. SOME OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, Jnlv 6. The Sunday Observer, in an editorial headed “The Wireless Scandal,” says; ‘II, would be difficult for anyone investigating impartially the evidence of the last six years not to conclude that the question of fixing a policy towards overseas eomninnic-afions lias been neglected. This inaction has been fortified by deliberate obstruction in the utilisation of wireless. Britain is not first, but last, among the principal nations of the world. Tho dominions do not share this responsibility. They have been ready to match tail 1 best peace. They have, hacli to watch impotently and waste precious years through Britain's lethargy and mismanagement. It is a grave decision to make. The Post Office is responsible for Imperial wireless connections, but, as the alternative is further delay and loss, wo are forced to acquiesce in the policy adopted.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. The Cabinet's Wireless Committee recently made a recommendation on the main lines of the Donald Committee’s report. This latter committee recommended that the Post Office should own and operate all Empire stations in Britain except in the case of Canada, raid also that the Post Office should establish improved business organisations at the present terminals. It was recommended that private enterprise should be given facilities to develop wireless communication outside the Empire, subject, in ' the case of Anglo-Continental services, to ceA’tain reservations, in view of tho competition between wireless and State-owned cables. There should be free competition in foreign wireless, subject to the State reserving the right to expropriate, take possession, and assume control in case of national emergency.