The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1930. EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1930, Page 8

The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1930. EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS

The preservation and strengthening of a united Empire not only call for the exercise of the highest gifts of statesmanship but necessitate the practical co-opera-tion of all sections of the peQple at Home and overseas, so that the interests of each part of the Empire shall be brought, into harmony with and promote the interests of all. • One of the most important factors in this com--bined effort is the provision of rapid communications —a subject that has been receiving continuous consideration in the post-war period. The great distance that separates the Motherland from some of the Empire units, especially those in the southern hemisphere, has always proved a handicap to rapid communication except by means of the cable service, but in recent times the development of wireless messages has greatly altered matters. There are now available both cable and radio services, and the latest move is in the direction of amalgamating these two methods of communication within the Empire, while it will not be long be-, fore wireless telephony will bring the whole world in close contact with the various parts. At the periodical conferences of Empire Prime Ministers this subject has formed a prominent item for discussion, and it 'is at such times that its importance is most readily demonstrated. It will not have escaped notice that the delegates of the Empire’s Press who are now in London are being treated as if they were Empire-makers, which in reality they are. Leading representatives of thought and action appear to be placing before the visitors many subjects that will probably be later reviewed by the Imperial Conference, thus opening the way for a better understanding of the needs of the Empire, much in the same way as the conversations between the British Prime Minister and President Hoover were intended to facilitate the proceedings fit the last Naval Conference. The value of a rapid system of long-distance communications is being brought home to the people of the Dominions by the fact that they are now able to become acquainted with the subjects that are brought bef< re the Press delegates practicallly as soon as the news appears in the Home papers. So successfully have the cable and wireless services been expedited that Sir Basil Blackett in addressing the . Press delegates apologise'd to the Australian members for a delay of '3O seconds in the receipt of the ■ result of the English Derby. The effect of commercialising the wireless system is evidenced from Sir Basil’s announcement that an agreement has been completed with the Governments concerned for the reduction of cable charges to the wireless level, though that policy would only be justified by a substantial increase in the volume of traffic. At the same time experiments are being conducted with a view to ascertain whether the regenerator system used in cables can be applied to some beam service, the idea being eventually to secure a great improvement in speed and accuracy. In referring to the bid which a big American company is making to establish vast communications Sir Basil insisted that competition like that must be met. It is often asserted that there is no sentiment in business, and that competition is the life-blood of .trade. How-ever-loyal a man may be to his country, the human fendefity. to do the best ho :*>!»• I? ;' ! 0 '•> :

in most cases supreme. Foreign goods are often bought for the reason that they are cheaper than home-made articles. If, however, the great British Empire is to flourish as it should, then foreign competition must be met and overcome. The news of a reduction in cable rates is certainly welcome, and so is the statement made by Sir Basil Blackett that he hopes soon to announce the conclusion of an agreement establishing wireless telephone services with a number of places within and without the Empire.’ A further contribution was made to this important subject by Professor Lees-Smith, Postmaster-General, who forecasts a twenty-four hours wireless telephone service from Rugby to all the Dominions —a voice linking not only Britain and ,the Dominions but all the world. The fact that both the Postmaster-General and the director of Imperial and International Communications, Ltd., should choose to’make such important announcements as they have done to the Empire Press Conference indicates their appreciation of the importance of that gathering and its value to the Empire. Their action is itself a recognition of that unity of Empire which the cheapening of the cable service and the remarkable development of wireless -telegraphy and telephony are transforming from an ideal to a living reality.