§ 70. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the great inconvenience which is caused to passengers on trans-Atlantic vessels owing to the unsatisfactory service from the Post Office wireless station at Devizes; that owing to the frequent difficulty in securing communication with this station a very considerable proportion of messages sent to this country from ships in the Atlantic have to be transmitted from the vessel to America, and thence forwarded direct to this country either by cable or wireless, involving considerable increase in the cost of the message; that vessels like the "Majestic," which are provided with high-speed apparatus for transmission and reception, find it almost impossible to work with Devizes, which is only capable of working at hand speed; and what steps he proposes to tale in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am aware that there is some difficulty in receiving messages at the Devizes wireless station from the Western Atlantic owing to interference. To meet these difficulties a new receiving station is being provided in the neighbourhood of Weston-super-Mare, and on its completion I anticipate that these difficulties will disappear. At the same time high-speed apparatus is being installed.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINCan the hon. Gentleman say when this apparatus is likely to be completed?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI cannot say at the moment. We are pressing on with it.