WIRELESS FOR AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 7

WIRELESS FOR AUSTRALIA

STATEMENT BY MB BRUCE BEAM SYSTEM FAVOURED. Press Association—By Telegraph.—Copyright. MELBOURNE. August 25. In the House of Representatives Air Bruce, in moving the second reading ot Die Wireless Agreement Bill, said that the British Government had recommended Australia to proceed with the beam system, and at the same time to carry on with a high-power station ; but the Federal Ministry had decided that R would be a mistake to proceed with anything hut a beam station. Under the old agreement it would have cost £SOO.CLO to erect a high-power station, 'i o provide a service under the new agreement the capital cost was estimated not iO exceed £120,000, and he believed that it would be considerably less. Air Brncc said the new agreement stipulated for a service of 50 words a minute, and a seven-hour day for 300 days a.veais against 20 words a minutes, a 12-hour day, and 300 days a year under the old agreement. Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., was released from its obligation to provide hi"h-power reciprocal stations in Britain and Canada. Thus it would only control the service rom Australia, and the, other end would he controlled by the British Government Mr Bruce added that Air YV. G. Gibson (Commonwealth Postmaster-General) mas now with the British Government regarding costs. If he were successful the rates would be: bull rate 2s, deferred Is, week-end 6d. Government Is, press scl, deferred press 3d. The service should be operating in nine or ten months time. The debate was adjourned. BEAM WIRELESS SCHEME. ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA. NEED FOB CAUTION URGED. LONDON, August 2. The. cablegrams state that the Commonwealth Government is agreeable to the Amalgamated AVircless, Ltd., making a contract with the Marconi Company for tho construction ot a beam station in Australia costing £IOO,OOO. Australian students of the wireless situation have expressed the hope that the contract will not be rushed without the fullest consideration and without binding the Marconi Company to penalties if it is not successful within six jnonths after starting the construction of the station. Thep point out the failure of a previous contract to 1 construct a high power station in Australia, with' an undertaking to establish a corresponding station in Britain. Inasmuch as the newspapers condemned the Government’s entry’ into the company’, the Australian public should demand a commission of inquiry. There is a stronger cause tor condemnation now they say, seeing that the first two years have shown little, if any, progress. Signor Alatconi denies that a beani was used in communicating with Australia in the June testa and adds that it would be difficult, if not impossible to communicate between England and Australia in the daytime An Australian authority points out that as England and Australia are on nearly opposite sides of the globe the intervening space is never wholly dark and Australia would be in a sorry’ position it New Zealand adopted a high' power station with the result that the first wireless messages between England and Australia would go via New Zealand.