EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18248, 5 August 1921, Page 9

EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS.

. AIRSHIPS OR STD AMER;/. AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. LONDON, Aoyast 3. Each Dominion will be responsible for wireless installation and con. trol of -its special sphere. Having secured a measure of concession with regard to wireless. Air. Hughes strove to save the airship scheme. OHielal arrangements pro*, vided that the imperial airship organisations be scrapped by August Ist. Everything was ready to this end, when Mr. Hughes intervened in securing delay,, contending that it was impossible to lope to secure satisfaction unless the nucleus was available to make tests. The Imperial authorities have now agree 1 to extend t’o life of thw hods 7 till Christ mas. The interval will he eccu_ pied in furthering the objects outlined by the Imperil Conference, particularly with re’ercnce to a service tn Australia. No long-distance tests, However, will to my.de, the trja ';exicnd iiv. tj . u re•y acca: z ible centres. Ino nines mtide by a specie. 1 committee appointed by the Conference showed t’mt the cost, of providing a fleet of 2 '-knot steamers would be 27 and s’.' millions, it i? estimated that each would cost three millions. The maximum number required to provide an adequate service between Britain and Australia would be nine. Such fast steaming would reduce the journey by 11 days. TJie airship scheme, judged by a conservative estimate, would< reduce the existing time by 18 days. The committee estimated the airship service could be established for the cost of a single 2 5-knot steamer. After the debate the Conference decided to leave the question unsettled, arranging for reference to the Dominion Parliaments, who will be furnished with the latest available information. They will also be kept in touch with developments. The Conference proceedings have now officially terminated, although the delegates will spend a few days in flaming a report on the Wireless and Airship Committee’s recommendations.

A summary ot the proceedings at the Conference will be made public as soon as possible.

“MR. MASSEY TO THE RESCUE.“ LONDON, August 4. The Natiosal Review, referring to the opening speeches at the Conference, says editorially, under the heading “Mr. Massey to the Rescue”: We are all grateful to Mr. Massey for following General Smuts and saying a word in season. We feel his protest on behalf of loyalty and good faith to the Allies will appeal to all that is best in the overseas Dominions, just as it is appreciated in the Old World. To General Smuts’ demand that Britain wash her hands of Europe and avoid any partisan altitude In its concerns, necessarily rejecting all alliances. Mr. Massey replied that 11? could not join in General Smuts’ opinion that we should do without alliances. We must stand by our treaties, even if for the time being they do not seem of much advantage. Our reputation for fair and honest dealing is one of our best assets, and must be maintained at all costs. If Britain had been compelled to stand alone in the late war could she have been successful? With all the confidence he had in her might, power and patriotism, he doubted it.