PREMIERS CONVERSE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1930, Page 6

PREMIERS CONVERSE

ACROSS THE WORLD,

ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN SERVICE STARTS.

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, April 30.

The inaugural ceremony oi the establishment of wirless telephony between England and Australia took place this evening at 5.30 o’clock Sidney time. It was completely successful.

There was a quarter of an hour’s conversation between the Biritisli Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and the Australian Prime Minister, Mr J. H. Scull in, which was broadcasted throughout Australia. The conversation and broadcast created a profund impression. Indeed it was uncanny.

Mr MacDonald began by expressing his pleasure at being able to establish personal contact again with his old friend in Australia. He paid a tribute to the engineers who were responsible for making the spoken word possible between Great Britain and Australia. He said that their achievement would bo the means of knitting more closely together the two countries.

Mi- ® MacDonald discussed in the clearest, tones Australia’s financial difficulties and he extended his sympathy to Mr Scullin in his efforts to right the ship of state. He referred to the arrival of the Australian cricketers in England, and gave a bright and interesting survey of the naval conference. M MacDonald exclaimed, in a happy vein: “What an age we are living in! What would our grandfathers have to say of it?” He closed with cordial greetings to Mr Scullin and to the Australian people. Mr Scullin, in the course of his reply, referred to his meeting with Mr MacDonald some 24 years ago. Mr Scullin alludedl also to his task of straightening out the Commonwealth’s adverse trade balance, and to the naval conference, and then to the destination of the cricket “ashes.” Mr Scullin added factitiously:— “There is no qmbarge on the importation of ashes!”

Then followed the Australian Prime Minister’s greetings and “an revoir,”! which Mr MacDonald answered plainly by saying “‘Au revoir my dear Mr Scullin!”

AT LONDON END

PERFECT RESULTS

LONDON, April 30

If you in Australia heard Mr Ramsay MacDonald as plainly as we heard Mr Jas H. Scullin ,at No. 10 Downing Street, London, where a dozen privileged journalists have not missed one syllable in their verbatim report, there is no need to recount what passed between the Prime Ministers. Air .MacDonald sat in his usual chair in the Cabinet room with an ordinary telephone. The journalists were in the next room, each with a telephone connected to an array of amplifiers.

Rt. Hon. Mr Lees Smith (Postmas-ter-General) was beaming on the new marvel which his Department has fashioned in the face of much criticism. He kept Mr MacDonald company. The Prime Minister’s son, Malcolm, gave a family touch by joining the journalists. He was glad to take one of their spare headphones.

Miss Ishbel MacDonald was unluckily out of Loudon, and thus missed the thrill. At 8.20, after repeated tests, wo heard the final “0.K.” to Mr Bndonach, who replied, “ All ready at Canberra, Mr Mercer!”"' Then, punctually, as I3ig Ben chimed 8.30 o’clock, the conversation began. There was not the remotest suggestion of atmospherics at this end. Those mid-Vic-torian courtesies “My dear Mr Scullin’’ and “My dear Mr MacDonald” sounded a little novel compared to the stereotyped matter of faetness of the every day conversation which London exchanges, bunt it was not costing £2 a minute.

Everyone was interested in Mr MacDonald's disclosure that it i« hoped soon to connect Australia with the greater part of Europe, and all of North America, via London ; but nothing delighted the listeners more than Air MacDonald’s: “By the by! This ashes business!”

I] 11E CRICKET JOKE.

WONDER FUL RECEPTION

LONDON, April 30

Upon Mr MacDonald's subtle allusion to the lavish hospitality on the fate of the ashes, two 'Australians who were in the room, and hundreds who were listening to the broadcast, were tickled by Mr Scullin’s promise that there would be no embargo on the import of ashes into Australia. No doubt the listeners in Australia heard Mr MacDonald’s quiet-chuckle at this remark.

Air Scullin’s voice carried perfectly. Indeed it was true, as Mr AlaeDonnlcf said, in closing: “You seem just to have been in the next room,” Air Scullin retorted: “The same with von!”

Finally came Mr MacDonald’s “An revoir till September! All the best things attend you! Tata!” *

Photos of the historic scene were taken, after which Mr MacDonald came to the journalists’ room, bubbling over with enthusiasm, tie said: “You know, I had not heard Scullin since 1906, but I recognised his voice at the first wold.”

Mr Lees Smith who was most proud of the success, revealed that a conversation was that moment going on between Mr Lloyd George and Mr W. M. Hughes, in Australia. SYDNEY, April 30.

A wireless telephone conversation l>e.ween Mr MacDonald and Mr Scullin, the latter being at Canberra, is being featured in the press to-morrow. Radio enthusiasts were al! agog toil ighL, reports arriving that the ieoepbion of Mr MaqDonakl s address was almost perfect. There was a slight fading on one or two occasions, but his words were never actually inaudible on loud speakers. I here was no interference of atmospherics.

£2 A MI NUTE.

A NGLO-AUSTR ALIAN PHONE FEE.

RUGBY, April'29

In the House of Commons, the Post-master-General, Mr Lees Smith, said that the charge for the new telephone service to Australia would he £2 per minute, with a minimum of three minutes. The, charge would therefore be at least £6.

Asked whether the charge would he reduced at an early date if the service proved successful, Mr Lees Smith said that he could make no statement.

Mr Wm. Hughes also conducted a conversation, with Mr Lloyd George.