WIRELESS CONTROVERSY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1923, Page 1

WIRELESS CONTROVERSY

A STATEMENT OF POSITION. [Reuters Telegrams.] (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) LONDON. October 17. In tho course of the conference, Air Worthington Evans lifted the veil from the wireless controversy. He declared that differences had arisen over a division of the traffic, between Government and Marconi stations. An agreement was practically readied in July hut- the Company had now changed its mind and rejected tho arrangement. -Meantime the Government w-ere hurrying the completion of its station, which would be in operation before the end of the. year.

Mr Worthington Evans expressed the opinion incidentally, that the present stage of wireless docs not provide either as accurate, reliable or swift communication as cables. Moreover it is open to interception. Therefore he did not share the enthusiasm that wireless would supplant cables. Tt would only supplement them. Nevertheless he was convinced that it held enormous potentialities and with improvement up to date wireless would extend the existing capacity for communication and tend ultimately to a reduction of rates. A

breakdown of the agreement has supervened, notwithstanding The fact that he acceded to Hie Company’s strong preference for a. pooling system, despite his own dislike for if. Ho regretted Marconi’s last moment- action had caused an unjustifiable delay, but ho, did not wish, to press the -scheme of a joint working if they definitely opposed it.

LONDON. Oct. 17. Mr Worthington Evans indicated that Government, were prepared to divide the services on a regional basis. For example, the services to Canada and South Africa to he conducted by the Government station, while Marconi's would handle Indian and Australian traffic. He declared it was essential that in sacrificing the statutory monopoly, Government should reserve sufficient, commercial traffic for the station to operate. The Government station would not lie less efficient than .Marconi’s and lie hoped the Canadian and South African Governments would see their wav to concur in the proposal ho was making.

There were prospects of a more fr

ipient Australian mail service when the I’eninsnlar Company completes the four ships now under construction, hut the question remained whether passenger and cargo traffic was .sufficient to repay more frequent sailings. Regarding the difficulties of telegraphically bridging the Pacific, Mr 'Worthington Evans pointed out that experiments were being carried out of instituting wireless between Vancouver. Fiji and Fanning Island, and Hie result would enable the Board to decide whether wireless, or a duplication of the cable is the more promising policy. Mo declared the Ooinnionwenlt.il has the right to require the Eastern Company to reduce the rate between Britain and Australia, to half a crown per word, and he appealed to Mr Bruce to examine the reduction of Australia’s high terminal rate of fivepenee per word on all traffic, w hieli was inconsistent with the avowed policy of cheap communication.