Empire Short-waver

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 20, 28 November 1930, Page 3

Empire Short-waver

Hitch in Plans (CLOSELY following the news of the intended establishment of an Empire short-wave station at Home comes the announcement that the British Government will not proceed further in the matter unless the Dominions bear a greater proportion of the cost. Mr. Brown, the Postal Director . of Australia, recently announced, however, that he believes the previouslyaccepted plans for such a service will eventually be adopted. Some time ago the British authorities invited the opinion of the Commonwealth Government on the subject. und asked what amount annually Australia was prepared to contribute towards the erection and maintenance of an Empire wireless station in England. The idea was to provide a powerful plant, capable of projecting programmes that could be picked up in all the Dominions. Australia’s Prime Minister, Mr. Scul- . lin, intimated the Commonwealth was Willing to co-operate, and an amount was mentioned as Australia’s contribution. This, however, was comparatively small, and apparently not satisfying. to the British Government. | Commenting recently in an Australian exchange on the general principle of Empire broadcasts, Mr. Brown. said there was no doubt that such a service would be of great value: He visualised the time when, besides a central Empire station in Great Britain, each Dominion would also have powerful wireless plants capable of exchanging programmes each with the other. Such broadcasts would help materially to bring the Dominions closer together, and enable the people of the various Empire units to know one another better. The first step would be a big station in Great Britain. Though the financial aspect was an obstacle at present, he had no doubt this would be overcome. Mr. Brown also has strong ideas about the value of international broadcasting. He said the exehange of programmes over the air would go a long way to create amity among the nations, and thus would he helpful in preserving world peace.