CABLE DELAYS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 8

CABLE DELAYS

WIRELESS THE BEST SOLUTION. Sir,—ln this morning's issue of your paper I have rend a report of the deputation representing the Associated Chambers of Commerce which, waited upon Die Postmaster-General to urge reduction of cable delays. Tho secretary of the Associated Chamhew emphasised the point Hint modern business requires quick means of communication, and o.s it may be assumed that with the rapid growth' of the Dominion the need for increased means of communication will continue it seems quite clear that the only way of keeping nbrcast of requirements is to provide additional "lines."

Some months ago a number of Press cables appeared in our newspapers in connection with the application of the Marconi Company, London, for permission to erect high-power wireless stations in England and Australia, and to inaugurate n public wireless message service direct I)etween the United Kingdom and Australasia. The practicability of communication direct by wireless was demonstrated on September 22, WIS, when Mr. Eisk, managing' director, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., received at Wahrnonga, New South Wales, on receiver designed and • manufactured in Sydney, messages sent by the Hon. W. M. Hughes and Sir Joseph Cook. These messages handed in in .London were transmitted from the Marconi trans-At-lantic station at Carnarvon, Wales.

The Marconi, Company' is prepared to erect the stations and conduct the ser-. vice entirely at its own risk and expense, and to send and receive all classes of messages, commercial, social, Government, and Press, at two-thirds of the existing cable rates. These great stations will probably cost £100,000 each, and the Marconi Company is prepared to find the money. Therefore, it is the company's money which would be lost if the scheme should not prove successful or remunerative. We can be sure, however, that the company, with its exclusive knowledge and experience, has no doubt of its success. In fact, it has conducted a long series of experiments fur that purpose. At the present time, tlie only thing required is the official sanction', and as the offer made, to the Government involves no expense or risk to the country, and no special concessions are sought it seems reasonable to look for early approval. Preparations will then be made for the stations. A temporary service from England to Australia will'be opened immediately, and the permanent service in both directions will probably be opened within eighteen months. These stations will be the most powerful and modern in the world. They will incorporate all the past; experience of other great trans-ocean services and every latest invention. With that combination, speed, accuracy, reliability, and secrecy will 'be obtained. Wireless messages to England will be brought within the means of the smallest purse, because the week-end messages ivill be accepted at a rate of about ten shillings for twenty words. Additional service immediately for messages from England to Australasia is of utmost importance, and indeed the reason for tho deputation from the Chambers of Commerce, and such 'service could bo provided immediately if tho Commonwealth Government will give the Marconi Company permission to operate stations between England and Australia. A high-power station is available in England for sending messages which would be received in Sydney, but no-messages can be 6ent by wireless from Sydney to England until a station of the requisite power is builKin Australia. ' As the wireless service is capable of giving greater speed than the cables, the above provides a ready means of immediately coping with the delay to international telegraphic messages, and steps taken in the right direction might havo tho effect of expediting the opening of the service. There can Ik no doubt that there is room for tho wireless servico because the cahles cannot cope with the present demand, which means restrictive use of telegraphic communication, and, therefore, if. adequate facilities are made available, the public will be able to make tis-s of the international telegraph service ns they desire, and not be restricted to a matter of privilege, as seems to be the case at present. Moreover, they will again be able to send messages such as week-end letters at reasonable rates.—' [ am. etc.. J. L. MULHOLLAND, N.Z. Superintendent, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd. <, June IS.