BLUNDERS AND MISCALCULATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 21

BLUNDERS AND MISCALCULATIONS

LEGACY OF THE LATE GOVERNMENT. CRITICISM BA” MR R. DONALD. PLEA FOR SETTLED POLICY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 7. Presiding over the meeting of the Council of the Empire Press Union yesterday, keen criticism was made by Mr Robert Dpnald (in the chair) of the late Government’s policy regarding wireless telegraphy Within the Empire. It was decided to ask the Postmaster-general to receive a deputation, and a resolution was passed urging upon the present Government the necessity for declaring a policy in view of developments which have occurred since the last Imperial Conference, Since last July, said Mr Donald, when the Post Office was congratulated on haying undertaken a great enterprise for establishing direct wireless communication with Australia, South Africa, and India, the situation had entirely changed, and the new Government would have to take action with regard to wireless before long. Its predecessor left it a legacy of blunders and miscalculations, but no settled policy. One result of the short-sighted action of the Government experts and the Government was that the Empire chain, which they dreamt of years ago, and hoped to see realised by now, was a dream of the past. Another effect was that all the leading countries of the world, France, Germany. Italy, the United States, and Japan, were a long way ahead of this country in wireless, and the Empire was suffering an incalculable loss for want of this new and indispensable means of communication. The present position was that Australia had entered into a partnership under Government control with the Australian Marconi Company, and would begin erecting its high-power station for Empire and world communication next month. Within two years this station would be operating. The Government of South Africa had granted a concession to the Marconi Company to build and operate the Union's share in the Empire wireless system. The Dominion of Canada was leaving wireless to private enterprise. The position in India was Still somewhat in doubt. India had been used rather as a pawn by the Post Office, whle it had been playing with wireless during the last few years. First, Egypt was to be a halfway house to India; the Government and its experts and the Post Office told them that although France and Germany could communicate direct with India, they could not recommend such a hazardous experiment. After two years, however, the impossible had become practicable. The policy had been changed, and - the Post Office was now planning a station in Lincolnshire for direct communication with India, South Africa, and Australia. The scheme submitted by the Post Office provided for this country finding the money for the Indian station. The proposal for erecting smaller stations in India, East Africa., Singapore, and Hongkong had been scrapped, and it was proposed that all the money should be put into the high-power station in India, and the station in Lincolhshire. Judging by extracts from Indian newspapers the feeling in India amongst the commercial community and the public generally seemed to be opposed to the Post Office scheme. The Post Office, while providing the capital, had not said who was to pay the interest on the sinking fund charges and bear the loss which would undoubtedly have to be faced in the first few years. He understood that the Indian Government had recommended the acceptance of this generous gift on the part of the British Post Office, but the final word remained with tire Legislative Council. A LITTLE BEHIND THE TIMES. The Post Office was unable to keep abreast of wireless progress, scientifically arid practically. The proposed station in Lincolnshire was one-fourth of the power of the proposed stations in Australia and South Africa, so that communication would be rather one-sided. The Post Office seemed to be always fated to be just a little behind the times in its schemes. One station, even of high power, in Lincolnshire, was quite inadequate as the terminal of the whole series of Empire systems. -(“Hear, hear.”) In France they had erected a series of high-power stations at St: Assize, and were already contemplating enlarging it. Mr Donald was told that agency press messages were frequently sent to South America and tnat American newspapers were using Paris as the centre of sending news to America instead of London. While the Government had been vacillating, it had also been holding up private enterprise, because no company would dream of erecting stations cr equipping old ones without being sure of getting a license to operate. Mr Illingworth when Postmaster-general three years ago announced that the Government policy would be that the British Post Office, n conjunction with the post offices of the dominions, should operate all the Empire systems, and that private enterprise should govern the rest of the world. He was told that it was impracticable to dissociate Empire wireless from world wireless, and that it would be a mistake to separate them, as it gave away our position as a Power. The British Post Office had never contemplated a system which would be either adequate or efficient. Unless the present Government really laid down a policy and stuck co it we should be as badly off as two years ago. It seemed to be too late to have public ownership. He understood that to erect a group of stations in this country competent to carry wireless throughout the Empire would cost £2,000.000, and he did not think the Post Office, after its experience, was likelv to get that sum from Parliament. It was up to the Government to decide. If we went on dallying, the Empire chain, instead of uniting the Empire, might be the means of causing a good deal c f friot ion. Moving the resolution that the council ,: desire3 strongly to urge upon his Majesty’s Government the necessity for declaring a policy in the matter of Empire wireless telegraphy, in view of developments which have occurred since the last Imperial Conference,” Mr N. K. Kerney (South Africa) said the matter was of supreme importance to all newspapers, not only in this country, but in the Empire. Sir Campbell Stuart, who seconded, said that at. Ottawa it was decided they should follow up their decisions. As a body they

should do everything now to carry this through.—(Cheers.) Sir Roderick Jones supported the motion. Lord Burnham said that when the resolutions were passed at the Imperial Press Conference at Ottawa, in 1920, it was anticipated that the Union would take practical and effective steps to secure the realisation of its policy. He had reason to believe that those who had been politically associated iwth the Post Office recently had come to the distinct opinion that, its former policy could no longer be defended or justified. He could not believe that Mr Chamberlain, when he surveyed the field, would not fall into line with that view. The resolution was unanimously passed, and it was decided to send copies to the High Commissioners of the dominions and to the Prime Minister, Colonial Secretary, the Postmaster-general, and the Secretary for India. On the proposition of Lord Burnham, the meeting decided to ask the Postmastergeneral to receive a deputation after the rising of the House. Mr Taylor Darbyshire said he had reason to believe that, the present Government was already moving in the matter of wireless. Lord Burnham : The door is ajar. Let us force it open. WEST INDIES AND THE EMPIRE. The Council heard from Lord Burnham the outline of a visit which he is to pay in the New Year to the West Indies as president of the Empire Press Union'. The invitation was originally extended during the visit of the union to Canada two years ago. It had now been endorsed by the Imperial Association of Jamaica, a body representing all the interests of the island. It so happened, said Lord Burnham, that he was vice-chairman under the Earl of Balfour of the Empire Parliamentary 'Association to take advantage of any visit of the sort to draw closer the relations between the Parliamentary bodies out there and the Houses of Parliament here. It would be folly to pretend that the West Indies were very happy at the present moment, either in their political or industrial circumstances. That applied especially to the means of communication. As they knew, the mail steamship subsidy had fallen through;’ and it was notorious that the press telegraph rates were prohibitive, and the facilities inadequate. It was his hope in going to the West Indies that something might be done to improve the situation. They all felt that the West Indies were the most neglected part of our Imperial patrimony; that was saying a great deal, but they all felt that on the whole it was true, and if they could do anything to remove that reproach, in however slight a degree, it would be to the good. The Chairman said they were all gratified to hear the president’s announcement. Lord Burnham had done many things, but this would be one of the finest he had ever attempted. Lord Burnham would be doing great service by his visit j not only for the union, but in the very much wider field of Imperial interests.—(“Hear, hear.”) The meeting further heartily adopted the suggestion of Lord Burnham that the secretary of the union (Mr IT. E. Turner) should accompany him on the West Indian visit. Members of the Council who were present included: Sir Campbell Stuart, Sir Roderick Jones, Sir Frank Newn'es, Lieu-tenant-colonel E. F. Lawson, Mr T. Darbyshire. Mr D. W. M‘Cay, Mr N. K. Kerney, Mr F. W. Tonkin, Mr P. L. Weston Edwards, Miss A. E. Evans (New Zealand Associated Press), Miss E. L. C. Watson, Mr IT. A. Woodcock, Mr F. Crosbie Roles, and Mr C. W. Grange.