WIRELESS POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 10

WIRELESS POLICY.

LINKING THE EMPIRE. CENTRALISATION AND CO-OPERATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriglit Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 10. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. The special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph ” says: “Sir William Joy neon-Hicks, Postmaster-Gen-eral. in carrying out the Government’s recently declared policy in favour of both Post Office and private enterprise in providing direct wireless communication with India and the Dominions, is encountering difficulties. “Sir William Joynson Hicks has been conferring with M&rconis with a view to their co-operation with the Government in conducting Empire wireless, but no solution has been reached. The company has contracts for the provision of high power stations in Britain to communicate with Canada, South Africa and Australia. These are not variable without the Dominions’ consent.” Sir William Joynson-Hicks wants to establish effective competition between the Post Office and private enterprise. A partnership with M&rconis on the Australian plan is ruled out. Anything like a monopoly is beyond discussion. There remain two courses, first —regional division ; secondly—centralised control by co-operation. “It; would not be advantageous to try to separate the Empire from the world’s wireless. The only alternative appears to he co-operation and the centralisation of all wireless. “ Unless practical decisions are speedily reached wireless, instead of being a factor in Empire unity, may become a source of irritation and misunderstanding-”