MARCONI CONTRACT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 10

MARCONI CONTRACT

JOURNALISTS STATEMENT “IMMENSE ADVANTAGE TO THOSE IN THE KNOW.” By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright LONDON, February 12. Before the Parliamentary Select Committec- inquiring *nto the contract between the Marconi Wifeless Company and tho British Post Oltice, Mr L.J. Masse, editor of the “National Ivoview,” testified that there was need for investigation. There had been an absence of effort to refute Mr Lawson’s damaging statement. Ministers had given evasive answers in tho House of Commons, and had misled members about the definite arrangement that had been concluded in the middle of March. The contract had been virtually settled months before, and gamblers had been exploiting it to the utmost. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of pounds had changed hands, and an immense advantage had been given to the privileged ones “in the know.” Sir Rufus Isaacs, tho Attorney-General, had unwittingly promoted a boom in March last by cabling his to Mr Marconi at a banquet in New York. , . . Mr Maxse added that lus inquiries had been independent of Mr Lawson’s, Ministers ought, ho held, to be examined before the committee. He declined to name those on whose information he had based articles affecting Ministers. The committee thereupon decided to report Mr Maxse to the Speaker 01 tho House of Commons, leaving it to the House to deal with the matter oi Mr Maxse’s refusal. Mr W. R. Lawson, a dealing with financial matters in his evidence before the committee, said that instead of purchasning th© Marconi patent at a fair price, the Government by an agreement placed the Post Office in the hands of patent -exploiters, and had struck a blow to British progress in regard to long-distance wireless telegraphy- Tho negotiations. Mr Lawson added, were carried on by the Secretary of the Post Office, and not a single independent authority was consulted. Later, Mt Lawson withdrew his evidence.