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His Excellency-We are not limited to 1 kilowatt. If the Chamber would say what range they want the question would be easy. We could get a 3-kilowatt or even 5-kilowatt installation. In the case of the 5-kilowatt station in Fiji, we had a guarantee by Marconi that it would be effective up to 300 miles at all times and under all conditions, but we found that at night it was effective for a much greater distance, up to 800 or 900 miles, and even further sometimes.
Mr. Ross.-If we only had a low-power station, there would be no revenue except from ships.
His Excellency.--If you want to communicate with shore stations in surrounding countries, a medium-power station would, of course, be necessary, but I do not see why you should, as there are cables, unless the idea is to compete with the cable companies, and reduce their rates by competition.
Mr. Edkins.—I have not followed the discussion on this subject, as I was absent from the Colony when it was introduced. It is quite possible that compulsory wireless telegraphy may be imposed on all ships, and it would be very desirable for a ship in distress to be able to communicate from half way between here and Singapore, say 600 miles. Manila would be nearer, it is true, but they would prefer to com- If wireless municate with British ports in the event of repairs being required. installations on merchant ships are made compulsory, they will probably have a longer range than 300 miles, and the ships will try to recoup themselves for some of the cost by charging for messages to shore. The Admiralty will not receive such messages at their high-power station. These are, in my opinion, points for consideration.
Mr. Shallard.-The installations on ships are still in the trial stage. Those on our ships have a nominal range of 250 miles, but it is in practice as much as 750 miles, and as time goes on these installations will be increased in power as shore stations to receive their messages are increased in number. For example, our ships communicate with Bombay on Wednesday evening, when they are due to arrive on Friday morning, and a number of messages are sent from shore.
His Excellency. My experience is that a ship with a nominally small apparatus can send a longer message than a similar apparatus on shore, because she has the engines of the ship to give increased power. In Fiji we had a 5-kilowatt Marconi installation, and there was a ship with only a 2-kilowatt Telefunken installation, but she could communicate with us as long as we could communicate with her, up to as much as 1,300 miles at night, simply because her engines were more powerful than our shore engine. I gather that what you gentlemen think is required is a station on shore with a range of 600 miles under favourable circumstances.
Mr. Shallard.-We want to communicate with vessels two days out, not less than 600 miles.
His Excellency.-
-If you want to do that at all times you get into a medium-power
What about Bombay ? station straight away. Must it be in the day time?
Mr. Shallard. They communicate mostly at night.
Mr. Edkins. It seems to me that, if we can run to the expense, the practical distance is half way between here and Singapore, say 700 miles.
Mr. Stewart-Would it not be enough to be able to communicate such a distance at night.
Mr. Edkins. Not if a ship was in distress.
Mr. Ross.-The question is in the initial stage so far as ships are concerned.
Mr. Shallard. I understand the Canadian Pacific Railway Company's ships can communicate 1,200 miles.
Mr. Ross.-That is so. I have had experience of it.
Mr. Stubb.-Is it possible to increase a low-power station to a medium-power station.
His Excellency.--I think not.
Mr. Ross.-You can have a low-power station attached to a medium-power station.
His Excellency--I understand that you do not make a point of communication with neighbouring countries.
Mr. Ross. The idea of communicating with land stations was on the score of revenue. We thought we could bring down cable charges and get revenue from it.
Mr. Stabb.--The Cable Companies have made a large reduction for deferred messages. You can send for half rates.
His Excellency-The question of producing revenue is really a separate considera- tion. I understand that the primary object of the installation is to communicate with ships.
Mr. Edkins-Also for typhoon warnings, if, for example, anything is to be done as regards the Pratas Islands.
His Excellency. That has to come perhaps. In the case of mail steamers you want to communicate with them at two days' range, not necessarily by day, and in the case of ships acquiring higher power installations than at present, you do not wish to lay behind. That, I understand, is what was in the mind of the Chamber of Commerce in recommending a medium-power station.
Mr. Stewart.-Where did the Chamber get the estimate of 6,0007, for a medium-
power station?
Mr. Shallard.--I think there was some misunderstanding on the subject. Mr. Stewart.Is the Colony tied to Marconi ?
His Excellency-I cannot say. The Telefunken installation is much cheaper to begin with, but I believe the Marconi Company say that their installations are cheaper over a number of years. I am informed that the Telefunken Company make high charges for renewal of parts of the machinery. I do not know whether this is 80. Well, gentlemen, I am much obliged to you for coming, I will make a note of the conversation and send it to you for confirmation before communicating with the Secretary of State again on the subject.
III-GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Telegram: received, Colonial Office, 9,51 a.m. 4th October 1912.) With reference to speech delivered by Postmaster-General, House of Commons, 7th August wireless telegraph installation, commercial community strongly desire Hong Kong should be included in initial scheme. Despatch follows by mail.
MAY.
SIR,
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
1.-COLONIAL OFFICE to GOVERNOR OF STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
16th February 1912. I HAVE the honour to inform you that the proposal referred to in my predecessor's despatch, Miscellaneous, of 1st February 1910, and subsequent corre- spondence, that a wireless station for communication with ships should be established at Singapore by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company and the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Wireless Telegraph Company, has now been abandoned as the companies desired to attach a condition to the grant of the proposed licence which I was not prepared to accept.
2. In these circumstances I would ask you to consider whether it would not be desirable for the Colonial Government itself to establish such a station in view of the fact that many ships are now equipped with wireless apparatus.
3. The cost of 1 kilowatt station with a range of about 300 miles would probably be about 2,0001. exclusive of site, and the annual cost of maintenance might be about 7007.
4. If you concur in this suggestion, I have to request that you will take steps for the selection of a suitable site in consultation with the local naval and military
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