18. Mr. FREDERICK HALL (Dulwich)asked whether any decision has yet been reached with regard to the construction or equipment of wireless stations in the West Indies, Mombasa, Penang, Singapore, or Hong Kong?
Mr. HARCOURTA low power 5-kilo-watt wireless station is now being erected= 395 in the Bahamas, and contracts are being entered into for the erection of similar stations at Barbados, Mombasa, Singapore, Penang, and Hong Kong.
49. Mr. F. HALLasked the Prime Minister what communications, if any, have been received from the British representatives of the Goldschmidt system of wireless telegraphy since Transatlantic wireless communication was established by means of that system last week?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I received a letter on Monday last from the British representatives of the Goldschmidt system conveying the information which had appeared in the newspapers of the preceding week, and inquiring respecting the contract for the Imperial wireless chain. I at once asked them to be so good as to arrange for representatives of the Post Office and Admiralty to attend a demonstration of the working of the system, and I hope that such a demonstration can be arranged for a very early date. I have as yet received, however, no definite reply from the company.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELDemonstrastrations were given by the Marconi Company to the Parker Committee.
§ 72. Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the Postmaster-General whether he has formed any estimate of maximum annual royalty which may become payable to the Marconi Company under the terms of the new agreement with that company now under negotiation?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe amount of royalty which would be payable to the Marconi Company would depend upon the rates fixed for the transmission of telegrams, and upon the amount of traffic 396 obtained. Any estimate would be speculative and it would not be advisable to quote a figure.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLIs it not possible to arrive at some estimate based on the earning capacity of an Atlantic cable?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, I do not think that comparison would be a very suitable one.
75. Mr. F. HALLasked what steps will be taken in the event of a contract being entered into with Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company to safeguard the interests of this country thereunder in the event of the failure of the American Marconi Company or any other associated company, or by the action of any foreign country adversely affecting such other company?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo such steps are necessary.
Mr. F. HALLIs it not a fact that the Marconi Company in entering into contracts with some of the other countries in which installations have been carried out have utilised the services of some of these subsidiary companies?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI do not how that may be, but the American Marconi Company would not be utilised in any way to assist the Imperial chain. They have nothing whatever to do with it.
76. Mr. F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that the expression of opinion concerning the Goldschmidt system of wireless telegraphy, embodied in paragraph 20 of the Advisory Committee's Report, has been justified by the establishment of communication between Tuckerton, Atlantic City, and Hanover, a distance of 3,600 geographical miles, he will at once consult Lord Parker, and the members of the Committee of which he was chairman, and ascertain from them further details of the Goldschmidt system, and its merits or demerits as compared with other systems?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI would refer the hon. Member to my answer to questions on this subject yesterday.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI cannot say what steps may be necessary until I have 397 ascertained from the investigations of my own officers what has actually been achieved by the Goldschmidt Company.