WIRELESS CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 6

WIRELESS CONTRACT.

EXPLOITED BY GAMBLERS.

AN EDITOR'S ALLEGATIONS. Br Telegraph—Preea Assoclatlon-Oopyrlfhl London, Fobruary 12. Mr. L. J. Maxse, oditor of tlio "National. Renew," in giving evidence before the Parliamentary Solect Coimnitteo inquiring into tho contract between tho Marconi Wireless Company and the British Post Office, testified that there was need for investigation. There had been an abscnoo of effort to refute tho damaging statements made by Mr. W. R, Lawson in the "National Review.". Ministern had given evasive answers in tho Houso of Commons, and had misled'members) about tho definite arrangement that had been concluded in tho middlo of March; Tho contract had been Virtually sottlod months before, and gamblers had been exploiting it to tho utmost. Hundreds of tlm isands, f>orhaps millions, ,of, pounds had changed hands, and an immense advantage had been given to the privileged ones "in tho know." Sir Rufus Isaacs, tho AttorneyGonoral, had unwittingly promoted a boom in March last, by cabling his congratulations to Mr. Marconi at a banquet in New York.

Mr. Maxso added that his inquiries had boen independent of Mr. Lawson's. Ministers ought, ho held, to be'examined before the oommitteo. He declined to name those on whoso information he had based articles effecting, Ministers.

The committee thereupon derided to report Mr. Maxso to tho Speaker of tho Houso of Commons, leaving it to tho House to deal with tho matter of Mr. Masse's refusal.-