["Via Wireless", The Western Mail (Perth, WA), Saturday 16 March 1912, page 24]
Via Wireless.
One of the determinations of the last Imperial Conference was the resolve to institute an Imperial wireless chain. The British Government have not slumbered over the decision, as intimation has been received of a contract entered into with the Marconi Company to establish stations at Cyprus, Aden, South Africa and India. In pursuance of the Imperial idea, the British authorities have requested the co-operation of the Commonwealth Government in the scheme, but the Federal Government have expressed their preference for independent action in the institution of a system capable of becoming an efficient part of the Imperial scheme. The Australian wireless system, still far from complete, was initiated only after much delay, experiment, and, apparently, hesitation. It is known that the system finally adopted is neither the Telefunken nor the Marconi, but its exact nature is a secret shared by none outside of Cabinet and the responsible officials. The Marconi Company have instituted proceedings against the Commonwealth for alleged infringement of their patent, and until the law, which makes much slower progress than the "singing spark," decides the issue, it can hardly be claimed that this country really possesses any wireless telegraphy. The Melbourne station has been working for some weeks, and it is anticipated that the towers at Sydney, Applecross, and Hobart will soon be ready to intercept the vibrating air wave, and will be followed by the erection of stations at Thursday Island and Port Moresby. The contract price of £60,000 a station accepted from the Marconi Company for the Imperial chain suggests some doubt of the efficiency of the Commonwealth system, in which the expenditure of a trifle over £6,000 was deemed adequate to provide Sydney with its station. It is also admitted that the Applecross plant will have a range of only 1,250 miles, which will not permit of aerial conversation between Fremantle and Singapore. The inadequacy of this feeble whisper is shown when it is remembered that the Mantua received a message that had winged its way over 6,249 nautical miles. It is not impossible that Australia will find her wireless arrangements incapable of being efficiently blended with the Imperial scheme. In the first place, the outcome of the Marconi Company's attack cannot be foretold, but might possibly deprive the Commonwealth of their present rights and property. Secondly, there appears to be substantial ground for the belief that the Commonwealth authorities sacrificed efficiency on the altar of cheapness, though efficiency assuredly should have been the prime consideration. Australia is certainly not the least important link in the Imperial wireless chain, and in the circumstances this country should aim to possess only stations and plant of the highest efficiency.
