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-cate over any thing like such a distance. I cannot imagine what they could want to communicate with their Agents about from a distance of 1,500 miles. It would mean as far as Yokohama from Hongkong, and there is a cable already. Those are the two points (a) there are no stealers in these waters fitted with such powerful installations and (b) why communicate such a long
distance.
I have had experience of installing Wireless
Stations in the Western Pacific. I am certain taat neither a
Hi Power nor a Medium Power Station could be erected for
£6,000 or anything like it. Tam is tue figure given by the Chamber in their letter of the 17th. October, 1911. Also 8484 per mensen for the staff which is ridiculous. One operator could not be tot for less than £250 to £300 a year, and for a station of the size suggested probably £400 a year would be required for the officer in charge. There are not a reat number of operators available. It is a new profession. Then the earnings are put at £2,600 a year, but no details are given. The Chamber were asked what places they wished to communicate with. Their a smer 788, the Philippines, Formosa, Japan Lanchuria, Cores, Burah, Straits Settlements, China, Borneo, Sumatra, and with vessels
all over the Eastern seas. Did the Onamber really think it
necessary to have a Wireless Station commicating with all these land stations? For example Shang nai is 600 nautical miles from Hongkong overland with intervening hills. A very powerful station would be necessary to commumicate at all times and under
all conditions with Shanghai. All this has been laid before
the Secretary of State, who enquired why such a powerful station
was required: why not one which would be effective up to say
300 miles? The answer of this Government was that the shipping
people here wanted a medium power station to communicate with
vessels at 850 miles at all times and under all conditions. I
want to ask, you, gentlemen, who represent shipping interests and
the Chamber of Commerce, what the Chamber does want. I want to
find