TELEPHONES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1919, Page 6

TELEPHONES.

GREAT DEVELOPMENTS IN AMERICA. The Postmaster-General in Australia referred the other day to the improvements that were being made in the telephone systems in America in the light of new discoveries, and efforts whicli°hc contemplated in order to procure the benefits for Australia. "The future of the telephonic svstem," said Mr. Webster, "is open to enormous possibilities. The Western Electric Telephone Equipment Company, of America, which is doing all the work for the Bell Telephone Compony, the biggest telephone system in the world, has made wonderful discoveries on lines promulgated by Bell himself over forty years ago. During all those years experiments have been conducted respecting the multiplex system, and it appears to-day that success has been achieved by fifteen experts working in conjunction, and after most severe tests. The information received from America shows that five separate and distinct telegraphic and telephonic messages can be transmitted and received over the ona wire. If that is so, it will revolutionise the telegraph and telephone systems of Australia, giving an improved and augmented ser-' vice at reduced cost. "The reports that I have received show satisfactory results after severe tests over trunk lines, and T am in commnnirotion with the United States authorities with a viev of getting the latest information regarding the development of the system and th« possibilities of securing its benefits ai the earliest possible moment for Australia Tin order to expedite its use in Australia 1 may have to dispatch a reliable officer to America to investigate the workings of the patent, so that I may be in possession. of the lotest and most reliable information to help my department to arrive at n correct derision regarding the system and its adaptability for Australia."