“LIFE BLOOD OF EMPIRE"

Taranaki Daily News, 6 June 1930, Page 9

“LIFE BLOOD OF EMPIRE"

COMMUNICATION ESSENTIAL

BRITISH POST OFFICE’S WORK

WORLD RADIO TELEPHONE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 12.10 a.m. London, June 5. The Postmaster-General, Professor Lee-Smith, opened the discussion on Empire communications before the Press Conference, Sir Basil Blackett’s address on cables and wireless following. Professor Lee-Smith stated the Karachi air mail would be extended to Australia, but he was unable at present to specify the time, which depended partly on the Commonwealth. He evoked applause by suggesting the Press might request a lower cable and wireless rate. “I might point out that the 1 ost Office reduced tho rates through tho beam wireless system in 1926, he said, but it no longer controls the charges.” Professor Lee-Smith forecast a 24hour wireless telephone service from Rugby to all the Dominions. This would be°a world voice—Britain calling the Dominions and all the nations of the world; the British telephone subscriber could speak to 90 per cent, of the world’s telephone subscribers, Rugby becoming the world’s switchboard., Concluding, Professor Lee-Smith said the British Empire’s future depended on goodwill and understanding, not on the coercive sanctions by which nations hitherto had held themselves together. It was the imperial task of the Post Office and the Communications Company to promote that goodwill and enable supreme political genius to express itself in solving inevitable difficulties. Thanking Professor Lee-Smith, a delegate stressed the importance of communications as the life-blood of the Empire. Professor Lee-Smith- had enabled them to realise what - the Post Office was doing for the Empire.