§ 42. Sir J. D. REESasked the Postmaster-General whether the members of the advisory committee on wireless telegraphy have expressed any opinion for his guidance supplementing the cautious expression of opinion contained in their report; if so, will he inform the House of these supplementary opinions; and whether the advisory committee on wireless telegraphy collected any and, if so, what evidence as to the estimated cost of equipping stations for wireless telegraphy on the Marconi system, the Poulsen system, and the Goldschmidt system, and as to the relative cost of transmitting messages by each of these three systems?
§ Captain NORTONMy right hon. Friend is not aware whether it is the intention of the Select Committee on the Marconi Contract to call for evidence from the members of the advisory committee. The latter committee have not expressed any opinions for his guidance beyond those published in their report; but he has had some conversation with the chairman on one or two questions arising out of the report. There are no papers which he can lay before the House. The question of cost was not included in the terms of reference of the advisory committee, which were framed in conformity with the terms of the Select Committee's Special Report. So far as is known, they did not collect any evidence as to the cost of the various systems.