315

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15 June, 1911.] Development of Telegraphic Communication. [9th Day. Mr. FISHER— cont. too. I wish to reserve myself from conveying to this Conference or any other one that we are committing ourselves to a scheme as outlined on the financial side of it. Mr. SAMUEL : We were hoping that the amount of traffic which would go through this chain of wireless stations would be so great that it would occupy them all day, that they would be additional stations, and that they would be unable to take any local work, but it is impossible to guarantee that. Would it not be best to establish a small joint committee representing the various parties immediately interested in order to work out the details of this scheme ? Mr. FISHER : We are going on, and we cannot stop because of anything being done elsewhere. Mr. SAMUEL : It will not affect the stations you are now putting up, but it would be desirable, if there is to be a scheme of this sort, that your stations you are now erecting should either work in with them or that supplemental stations should be erected to take this new work. Mr. FISHER : But our contracts are so drawn that we really find ourselves embarrassed when we want to make any alteration whatever. Mr. SAMUEL : I would suggest that there should be a joint committee working out the details on which, perhaps, the Australian Government would nominate a member, and perhaps the New Zealand Government would also nominate a member. I suppose it ought to sit in London. Mr. FISHER : I think it ought to sit in Australia. It is about time you were seeing the countries you are dealing with. Mr. SAMUEL: The Indian Government is also concerned, and Aden and Cyprus ; all those places will need stations. However, perhaps we can discuss the details afterwards. Mr. FISHER : I do not think it would be a bad idea if they would just take a trip out there and see the places before deciding upon them. Sir D. de VILLIERS GRAAFF : I take it that we express the desirability of such a system by passing this resolution. The other matters are matters of detail to be considered later on. As to the desirability, there can be no question—we are all in favour of it. CHAIRMAN : I understand the motion is acceptable to all: " That the great " importance of wireless telegraphy for social, commercial, and defensive purposes " renders it desirable that a chain of British State-owned wireless stations should be " established within the Empire." Sir JOSEPH WARD : That, I understand, is carried unanimously. CHAIRMAN : That is carried unanimously. Universal Penny Postage. " That, in view of the social, political, and commercial advantages to accrue from a system of international penny postage, this Conference recommends to His Majesty's Government the advisability of approaching the Governments of other States known to be favourable to the scheme with a view to united action being taken at the next meeting of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union." Sir JOSEPH WARD : I had the honour of introducing a similar motion to this in 1907. and although the resolution was accepted by the British representatives, it was regarded as an indication of policy as leaving the British Government free to