THE MARCONI CONTRACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 July 1913, Page 5

THE MARCONI CONTRACT.

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association—;By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

HEATED DEBATE IN COMMONS. Received This Morning, 12.15 o'clock. LONDON, July 17. In the House of Commons, the Hon. W. Guinness raised a heated and desultory debate on all phases of the Marconi contract. Major Archer-Shee pointed out that the Americans had given a priority to the Poulsen system, over all others, after a practical test. The Speaker appealed to Ministerialists not to maintain a running fire of interruptions but give members a chance. (Opposition cheers.) Lord Robert Cecil said the only question was, ought the Government to give the contract to the Marconi Company without competition or ought they to invite competitive tenders? Mr Herbert Samuel, in reply, said he relied on the results of the official inquiry in regard to long-dis-tance wireless. He also communicated to the House the opinions received that day from the Engineer-in-Ohief of the Post Office and the Inspector of Wireless Telegraph, formerly of the Admiralty, but now of the Post Office, the President of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, and Lord Parker, all declaring that it was inadvisable to invite Poulsen and Goldschmidt to tender at the present moment. Mr Samuel pleaded the urgency, strategical and commercial reasons. Mr Austin Chamberlain replied that the Post Office insufficiently realised that it was master of the situation. Instead of entering on a contract he would prefer some delay, otherwise the Department ought to execute the work.