"WIRELESS"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10266, 19 June 1911, Page 5

"WIRELESS"

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By Elec~ trie Telegraph — Copyright.

AND THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S MOTION.

(Received June 17, 8.5 a.m.)

LONDON, June 16

The precis of yesterday afternoon's proceedings at the Imperial Conference has not been issued. It is understood that the Conference considered the question of a chain of State-owned wireless stations, a matter in connection with which the following motion stood in "New Zealand's name:—

That the great importance of wireless telegraphy for defence and other purposes renders it desirable that the scheme of wireless telegraphy approved at the Conference held in Melbourne in 1909, 1)e extended so far as practicable, throughout the. - Empire, with the ultimate object of establishing a chain of State-owne,d wireless stations, which, in emergency would enable Great Britain to be, to a great extent, independent of submarine cables.

Mr Herbert Samuel, PostmasterGeneral, explained that Britain was bound to the Marconi system. An Imperial system was impossible while parts of the Empire were tied to different systems. The Conference approved a motion in favour of Imperial postal orders. It redi.vcus.sed the question of the | enforcement of commercial arbitration I awards throughout Europe. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clo; c) LONDON, June 17. After the Hon. Herbert Samuel's .statement, Sir Joseph Ward amended his motion in the direction of affirming the desirableness of establishing State-owned wireless stations. The Right Hon. L. Harcourt, replying to Mr Pearce, said the Pacific Islands were not overlooked in the ultimate development of the scheme. Sir Joseph Ward said he thought it would be more satisfactory if Australia and New Zealand carried out their local requirements, sharing the cost with Singapore. Mr Fisher declared that the Common wealth intended to proceed with .its own scheme., It reserved the right to erect stations where it pleased. He supported Mr Samuel, but he wished to make it clear that he was not commif ted to the fanatical side.

The amended resolution was adopted.

UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S MOTION. Sir Joseph Ward moved: — That, in view of the social and - political advantages and the material commercial advantages to accrue from a system of international penny postage, this Conference recommends to His Ma- ■, jesty's Government the abvisability of approaching the Govern- .-.: ments of other States known to be favourable to the scheme, with • a view of united action being taken at the next meeting of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union. Sir Joseph Ward made a strong plea in favour of the adoption of his motion. Mr Samuel objected that the adoption of the motion would involve Great Britain in a loss of four hundred thousand pounds annually. This assertion caused the withdrawal of tho motion.