The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 2, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 961, 2 March 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 2, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Since it was announced that the Government has come to terms with the Australasian Wireless Company, for the installation of a complete system of wireless telegraphy for New Zealand, some correspondence has been published in the city newspapers with the view of showing that the Government has not acted wisely in adopting what is known as the Telefunken system in preference to that of the Marconi, and further, that it was not in consonance with our professedly Imperial leanings that the Dominion money should be utilised to patronise the foreigner. Sir Joseph Ward has made an important statement on the matter which effectively dissipates any doubt concerning the course taken by Cabinet. It appears that the amount of the tender for two high-power stations is ,£23,730. Tenders were also submitted by the Lepell and the Maroni companies. The Premier states that the Government, after full consideration, resolved to accept the tender of the Australasian Wireless Company, as being from the standpoint of the Dominion the most satisfactory one in every way. The Government fully considered the offer of the Marconi Company, which for the same number of stations was approximately ,£30,000 higher than that of the Australasian Wireless Company, a difference in the price which made the Marconi offer prohibitive. The Premier goes on to|say : —“investigation of the merits of the Telefunken system, which is used by the Australasian engineers in London, was made by our own engineer. The opinion of our consulting engineer in London was also obtained, and upon their reports the Government was satisfied that the Telefunken system was better suited to our requirements than the Marconi, lo say nothing of the enormously lower price. Apart from the report of our engineers, we called for and obtained a guarantee from the company that equally good results would be secured. Then the system to be operated between New Zealand and Australia, as carried on by the Telefunken method, will require only 70-h.p., and for the same guaranteed I

system the Marconi Company specified 200-h.p., so that not only in the primary cost of the annual working the Marconi system would have been much more expensive than the other.” Upon the charge of inconsistency in subsidising the foreigner, Sir Joseph Ward was equally clear and emphatic. He showed that wireless is controlled by foreign companies, and that in this respect the tender accepted could not differ from either of the other tuo.

It will be remembered that some time since we communicated with the Premier asking whether it was the intention of the Government to subsidise local governing bodies efforts to commemorate the Coronation of King George V., and if so would such subsidy apply to the erection of a hall. The Premier replied that the matter would be gone into upon his arrival at Wellington. We suggested that the Borough Council should take the matter up, at the same time pointing out that it was questionable whether thesusidy would apply to loan moneys. The Council, at its last meeting, decided to make application for a susidy through the member for the district, Mr Newman. Yesterday we received a further communication from the Premier in which he stated that “ if application is made or a for £ subsidy, and full particulars given regarding the proposed Town Hall, the request will have the full consideration of Government.” We passed the information on to the proper quarter, and full particulars were telegraphed to the Premier yesterday. The reply will be awaited with interest by townspeople.

At the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, the tram question was referred to by Mr Robert Gardner. He said that if the Edison Storage Battery system was adopted the Greatford-Eevin railway scheme would soon be done away with. A tram line would be laid down to Rongotea, trams to run out and back three times a day. Trips could be made through Rongotea, Saudon and Bulls twice a day on a single charge. Mr Gardner then gave particulars as to the storage battery car. Mr Gardner’s views in connection with the Levin-Greatford connection are somewhat amusing and decidedly parochial.