WIRELESS CONTROVERSY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1923, Page 3

WIRELESS CONTROVERSY

MIL BRUCE ON WIRELESS COM .MI NK AT'ION. f Kbctbks Tklbciums.'J (lieeeived this day at 12 noon). LONDON, Nov. I I. In the speeches delivered at the Kctiiiinic Conference oil the Pt.li in eon neetiuu with wireless eoinmuiiieat ion.Mrllruce said that lie did nut share the view of Caiiada and South Africa that the wireless stations to he established in llrilain was a (|iieslion Hm tiie liritish Govi'nimuiii. alone. He inaililained that it was a great Imperial question as effective coiiimuiiiention was vital to the Empire hut the rapidity of eoinmuiiieat ion was perhaps the most serious euiisideraLion and fiii 1 in.tr; tluil, many things that they were attempt ing to do at the (‘nliferenee in the matter of trade would inevitable not he realisable. Il a ureal ly increased service of news could provided n 1 tic] 1 would lie done in the direction of getting greater no ity of thought in the Empire. Kurtlierniore, efficient and cheap wireless would promote migration thus enabling the migrants to maintain contact with their old associations. The cables were a serious drawback from a defence viewpoint, owing to the fact that they could be cut. The problem of closer Imperial consultations on the foreinn policy was only soluble by an improvement in communications. Other nations were sending far more news abroad than liritnin. lienee, the problem did not brook delay. Another serious factor was the increasing difficulty of the Kmpire in obtaining tho position it to holt!, was the wave lengths already reserved and more would lie reserved with the con-

stant erection of new stations. The present position was most alarming I and there wits only one possible sound and sane way of meeting it. Since the liritish Government decided to build a station then Australia was entitled 10 say licenses should he issued for the erection of other stations in Britain. These should lie operated under a pooling arrangement. It was imperative that the whole ca-e should have the fullest publicity and if it was impossible to LliUs ascertain the facts an impartial authority must lie appointed to investigate the whole situation. When il issued its finding no Government or outside people would be able to resist the pressure ol the people of Britain and the Dominions to prevent future wireless being held up because of a quarrel which, apparently, was at present extraordinarily intense. j MR MASS MV’S OI’INIO.V. Air .Massey said it was: impussixlo for New Zen la ml to do anything of much value, pending definite action h v Bi i- - tain, lie asked when v.as the British Dost, Oflico going to make up its mind. .Mr .Massey, unhesitatingly, favoured ■Knipire against private control, and stated that it was liis opinion that 'Useless would he eventually cheaper and more efficient than the cable. He urged the autlionties in Britain to bestir themselves. .Sir Win. .Mclntosh -aid that South Africa having entered into a eontiaet did not consider it bad any status to interfere in anything Britain might wish to do.