AIR V. STEAM.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170572, 4 August 1921, Page 7

AIR V. STEAM.

EM PI HE COM M UXICATIONS

THE POSITION 0 FWIRELESS

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright; Australian and N.Z. Cable Association j/veceived 0.0 p.m., August J. LONDON, August 2. Each Dominion will be responsible lor tlie wireless installation and control ol its special sphere. Having secured a. measure ot concession on wireless, Mr Hughes strove to ha-vc tho airship scheme. . The official arrangements provided that tho Imperial airship organisation iwould ho scrapped by August 1. Everything was ready to this end, when All Hughes intervened, securing a .,, contending that it was impossible to hope to .secure satisfaction unless a nucleus was available to make teste. The Imjjorial authorities have nowi agreed to extend the life of this body to Christmas. The interval will bo occupied in furthering tile objects outlined b v the Imperial Conference, particularly with reference to the service to Australia. No long distance tests, however, will he made, the trials extending to purely accessible centres.

COMPARATIVE COSTS

Inquiries made by the special committee appointed by the Coniereueo showed that the cost of providing a fleet of _-j----knot steamers would be between £_(,- 000,COO and £50,000,001). It is estimated that each would cost £3,000,0uv). The minimum number required to provido an adequate service between Biicain and Australasia would be nine. Such fast-steaming vessels would reduce the journey by 11 days. The airship scheme, judged by a conservative estimate, would reduce tho existing time by 18 days. Til© committee estimated that an airship service could he established tor the cost of a single 25-knot steamer. QUESTION UNSETTLED.

After a debate the Conference decided to leave the question unsettled, arranging a reference to tho Dominion Parliaments, "who will bo furnished with the latest available information, and also kept in touch with the developments.

MR HUGHES’S CONTENTIONS. Mr Hughes contended that the Norman scheme provided five relays between Australia, and England, but did not provide communication with Canada, the United States, China, or Japan; whereas* the system of bridging the air between Australia and England would embrace also every country of importance in the world. Under tlio Nornmn scheme, in tho case of a jamb, Australia being at tho end of the line would be the last to receive news from abroad, and the last to get her information past the obstacle. A long discussion ended with, a compromise by the Imperial authorities, other Prime Ministers agreeing to allow; Mr Hughes to refer the matter and all facts to tho Federal Parliament, on whom th© responsibility will be thrown for establishing a connexion with Britain by whatever means it approves. Received 5.5 p.m., August 3. LONDON, August 2. Tho Postmaster-General announces that mails for Egypt, India, and Australia were despatched on Friday by auto Paris, and overtook tho ordinary mails which were despatched on Thursday, and caught the mail ships.