THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13940, 28 June 1909, Page 5

THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

STATE-OWNED SYSTEMS. SUG G ESTE D AY IR ELESS SEB V i CE. Press As.soojul.iun-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 5 p.m., Juno 271 h. LONDON, June 2(i. The Canadian delegates proposed a resolution favouring a. State-owned system of electric communication between India and Canada to Vancouver, thus completing the State service England to Canada to Vancouver. Mr Fenwick (New Zealand) strongly supported xhe resolution, and claimed that the. Pacific cable was already a gfcat success, but he. added it would never be a complete success till Stateownership was established in England. Mr Gresloy Lukin, Mr Cohen, Mr Fink, and Mr Tcmpcrley also supported the resolution. Some of tho- Australian delegates questioned the priority of State, competition unless the existing interests were fairly treated. The motion was carried. A similar resolution- was adopted in relation to South Africa. The "Times" in a special article suggests the formation of an Imperial wireless telegraphy service. Marconi's Canadian service had transmitted 300,000 words, mostly coded, and probably would handle five millions during the coming year. The present average speed was 24 words a minute, and was likely to be increased to sixty. Tiie "Times" suggests stations at Malta, Alexandria, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, and Wellington, each station to have a range of 2000 miles: It is estimated that.such a service will cost £5.5,000, and that the upkeep will be £IO,OOO. If the British and colonial Governments would equip 15 stations at a cost of £825,000 and offer a subsidy of £150,000 annually, an Imperial penny-a-word service would be possible. If each station handled 15,000 words daily, it would be possible to make a profit upon a complete Imperial system of 21 stations. BIRTHDAY RECEPTION. Received 5. p.m., June 27th. LONDON, June 26. The delegates and their ladies at tended the Marchioness of Lansdowne s King's Birthday reception. STATE-OWNED CABLES. REDUCTION OF RATES; MR MARCONI CONFIDENT. Received 5.10 p.m.,' June 27th. LONDON, June 26. The Conference, Mr Lawson presiding, appointed a standing committee, and a deputation t<f urge upon Mr Asquith, the Prime Minister, a general reduction of cable rates. Another resolution advocated the establishment of wireless stations in the east and in the south. Another resolution dealt with the grievances of Indian newspapers, whose rates arc as high as those of New Zealand, and Ceylon a halfpenny more. It was announced that the Pacific Cable Board had decided to reduce their proportion by-Jd to 2Sd, New Zealand to reduce its proportion by id, making an immediate reduction of press messages from England to New Zealand of 9d. It is expected that the Commonwealth will lower the land charges by ?,d, which would reduce the Australian press messages via. Pacific to Bid. It is also expected that if the Atlantic Company and the Canadian land lines make a reduction they will be devoted to lowering tho press rates. Mr Marconi said he was most confident of belief that by August he could transmit 15,000 words' daily from Ireland to Canada, and send press messages across the Atlantic at 3-id. per word, possibly 2d, against the present rate of sd. Tlie.ro was every hope that his systcw would embrace the whole Empire. He had already an installation to the Argentine, and if this was successful he hoped to instal a system from England to the Cape, and from the Cape to Canada. CLOSE OF THE SITTING. Received 12.20 a.m., June 28th. LONDON, June 27. The Press Conference closed on Saturday. . ' Viscount Esher, in presiding at the closing session, said that the thanks of the delegates were, due to Mr Chamberlain, Colonel Seely, Lord Roscbery, and Mr Rhodes.