The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1923. NEW ZEALAND’S WIRELESS POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18822, 12 July 1923, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1923. NEW ZEALAND’S WIRELESS POLICY

It is not so very many r years since Lord Tennyson, inspired by the wonder of the achievement, gave play to his poetic genius in describing the work of the first submarine cable as the flashing of “thunderless lightning” under the sea. In what terms would that great poet have immortalised the weird magic of wireless telegraphy as we know it, or rather as we are beginning to know it, to-day« Under the most modern processes it is possible, as has been aptly said, not only to ‘“receive” messages, but to hear them from points hundreds and thousands of miles from the station, of transmission—to listen to human voices snatched, as it were, from space itself. -So marvellous has been the development of the phenomenon, invented by Marconi that a concert given in a room full of people in Auckland can be almost as plainly heard and as completely enjoyed in Wellington as on the spot where the performers stand in the flesh. By reason of the tremendous possibilities of wireless communication, great interest attaches to the statement made to the House of Representatives by tho Post-master-General, outlining the wireless policy favoured by the Government. In commenting on the statement the New Zealand Herald pays a well deserved tribute to Mr Coates who, it says, again shows himself a Minister able to combine a touch of imaginative insight with a sound business instinct when devising policy lines for his departments. He appreciates tho usefulness of waterpower being available for a high-power station. He realises that the hydro-electric plants, far inland as they are, would be good strategic points in a country like New Zealand if war threatened to visit these shores. Again, he proposes to place New Zealand on the map, in a wireless sense, by having some period of the day recognised, if possible, as belonging specially to this Dominion for wireless business. With all that,

he believes that possible developments make it sound business to wait a little before becoming committed to any definite course of action. New Zealand, it goes without saying, must keep abreast, so far as possible, of wireless developments, particularly in their bearing on communications •within the Empire. Britain is establishing at Bourne, in Lincolnshire, n station which it is claimed will be the most powerful and up-to-date in the world, with a World-wide sending radius. Australia, South Africa, and Canada have all concluded arrangements which will enable them to communicate with Britain and each other by this medium. New Zealand being the most isolated of the dominions, her need is greatest of them all. The Dominion, therefore, must not be left out of the race. This might appeal an argument against the Minister's counsel of delay. But our Auckland contemporary points out that the Minister has some convincing facts in favour of it. One, which he cited, is the experience of Australia, where, with a little more waiting, a better bargain could unquestionably have been made. The battle between State ownership and private enterprise has been, fought in several countries. Australia is proceeding under contract with Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd. South Africa has concluded a bargain with the Marconi Company. Britain prefers to own her high-power stations. In addition to the installation under way in Lincolnshire, there is a station ar Leafield, primarily intended for work ing with Cairo. Though not notably powerful, it does much work, handles many commercial messages, and returns a prefit. For the State to own the station will be in tune with the genera] New Zealand policy of public ownership of the means of communication. All told, we think there will be general agreement with the New Zealand Herald’s opinion that the Minister’s statement may bo accepted as satisfactory, and that so long as the waiting for an opportune moment is not transformed into unnecessary delay, the country should find Mr Coates’ policy fully acceptable.