HC Deb 27 March 1912 vol 36 cc424-5
Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what system of wireless telegraphy is at present in use in Jamaica, Trinidad, British Guiana, and Tobago; what system it is proposed to establish in British Honduras and the Bahamas; and what systems are under consideration for Barbados; (2) the estimated cost of erection and equipment of the wireless station in British Honduras, and what is the estimated cost of operation, including provision for the amortisation of capital; (3) the estimated cost of the wireless stations in the Bahamas and Barbados, including provision for the cost of equipment, erection, maintenance, and amortisation of capital; and (4) whether he will state the present cost of maintaining the wireless stations in Jamaica, Trinidad, British Guiana, and Tobago?

Mr. HARCOURT

In Jamaica the Lepel system of wireless telegraphy is in use, and in Trinidad, British Guiana, and Tobago the Lodge-Muirhead. In the cases of British Honduras, the Bahamas, and Barbados neither the system which will be adopted nor the estimated cost can yet be stated, with the exception that the cost of erection and equipment of a 3-kilo-watt station in British Honduras has been roughly estimated at £2,000 to £2,500. The cost of maintaining the two wireless stations of the Trinidad-Tobago service is about £900 a year. The cost of maintaining the stations of the Trinidad-British Guiana service and the Jamaica station cannot be given, since these stations are in the hands of private companies.

Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I wish to give the right hon. Gentleman notice that at a convenient opportunity I shall invite him to make a statement on this subject.

Major ARCHER-SHEE

Who is going to pay the cost of this Bahamas station, and has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to a statement in the engineering supplement of the "Times" this morning that the Poulsen-Pedersen system was worked at 200 words a minute before representatives of the Admiralty, the Post Office, and the War Office last October, and, in view of this great advance in wireless telegraphy will he take the schemes of this particular company into consideration?

Mr. HARCOURT

I did not get so far as the engineering supplement of the "Times." I will answer the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question if he will give me notice.