WIRELE'S IN AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1921, Page 3

WIRELE'S IN AUSTRALIA

STATIONS FOR THE OUTBACK. SYDNEY, Eeb. 9 The Postmaster-General’s Depart ment is actively interesting itself it the development of wireless, and im purtnnt proposals are receiving consideration. The new Imperial, trans-oceat scheme, under which there is provisior for a high-powered station in Aii.tra lia, has already been commenced in England. There are to be big .stations in England, Cairo, India, Singapore, Canada, and Australia. The stations are now being designed by a special commission, and the English and Egyptian stations are actually being erected. It is expected that the Australian station will he located in West Australia. This system will link up with African, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands stations. A series of radio stations is proposed for those inland parts of Australia, where it would lie too expensive to creel telegraph or telephone lines. A new regulation allows private installations of this character, and the Department is to provide public statons to collect traffic from the private stations. Such private stations are now being provided by big station-owners in Northern YVest Australia and in the remote back of Queensland. In these cases, where the annual revenue is short of the annual e’ arges, the Department will make up 75 per cent of the deficiency. Small isolated communities—of which there are many in this country—-will, of course, he allowed to erect their own stations in the snirc way. The Government has adopte 1 a liberal policy in this matter, and is encouraging and assisting the establishment of private stations. The Department, has been keeping closely in touch with wireless telephony developments, but this new style of communication is not yet considered to he far enough advanced to provide a satisfactory service on a commercial basis.