NEWS TRANSMISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27580, 23 December 1950, Page 8

NEWS TRANSMISSION

Commonwealth Countries

INCREASING DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED PA AUCKLAND, Dec. 22. A message received by mail from the Press Association in Sydney and London, Reuter, and the Council of the Empire Press Union embracing the majority of newspaper interests in the Commonwealth, called for the establishment of relay stations to combat the increasing difficulties in news transmission to and from Commonwealth countries.

Discussing what was described as a “ very serious collapse of Commonwealth telecommunications for press purposes,” the council has issued a memorandum listing the various delays caused, in apparent order of importance, as, first, the peak df the sunspot cycle which is associated with the daily “fading out” of longdistance radio for varying periods, and, secondly, the change-over to Post Office control of the Commonwealth’s London terminal, which was formerly operated by Cable and Wireless, Ltd., as a commercial company. It had seemed to most Commonwealth press correspondents in London to be “more than a coincidence that the present disastrous breakdown follows the transfer to Post Office control, whereas their despatches had been passing speedily enough ever since the close of the war.”

The memorandum said that for the past two months it had been increasingly difficult —and at times impossible —to send news telegrams between Britain and the Commonwealth countries overseas in either direction, whether by normal British radio beams or by cable. Breakdowns which cut off more especially Australia and New Zealand for periods that have already reached 30 hours, so far as can be seen will continue to lengthen. The memorandum _ said that tinder such conditions news, always a swiftly perishable commodity, simply ceases to be news. Even during the war the position was no worse than at present.

The breakdown “is particularly menacing at this time of severe international tension.” “The only known remedy for the fading of long-distance radio is the establishment of intermediate relay stations—a long and costly business involving vulnerability in the time of war,” the memorandum says. “ Nevertheless, such relay stations would seem to be urgently needed. Coupled with that, new cables are called for. The scattered Commonwealth needs a firstclass nervous system."

The memorandum added that while these remedies would be decisive, they would take years to apply. “In the meantime, what can be done to start inter-Commonwealth news and information flowing freely again? ” it asked.