Pacific Radio

Network

When the Germans Had Their Plans

rE Germans were the first to realise the potentialities of radio in the Pacific. This fact was emphasised by Sir Ernest Fisk, Director of Economic Co-ordination for the Australian Gov ernment, and the outstanding figure in radio development in Australia and the South Pacific, when he spoke before members of the Pacific Islands Society at the Carlton Hotel, Sydney, on April 30.

Between 1910 and 1914, said Sir Ernest, the Germans had a scheme in hand that would have been to their advan tage, if they had won the last war.

Radio stations were erected near Rabaul, at Apia (Western Samoa), and on Nauru Island. Then, when the Austra lian and New Zealand Governments became interested in wireless, they offered such favourable tenders for the erection of stations in those countries, that they were accepted.

“The Germans stipulated, however, that these stations should not only be equipped by their men, but that their engineers should remain in control,” added Sir Ernest. “Fortunately, our Governments declined those proposals, though they accepted the equipment.”

Following the outbreak of war all sta tions (which had been intended for use as a Pacific network) were taken over by the British. “The scheme was clever, ingenious, and well thought out,” he said, “and it might well have succeeded.”

Sir Ernest recalled how. within a few

days of the outbreak of war. he had been called upon by the Australian Gov ernment to provide trained wireless experts to leave for abroad within a few hours. Throughout the night he worked, collecting men who had no idea of where they were being sent. “Radio was then in its infancy,” he said, “and it was by no means easy to get the men we had trained at such short notice. Some were actually taken from their beds. How ever, they were all on the warship next morning, and not one man refused to go abroad.”

These men were subsequently sent to New Guinea to take over the radio centres there.

Speaking of the rapid advance in radio in the Pacific, Sir Ernest said that the Tongan Government was one of the first to appreciate its development. A station was erected there by Australians before the war was over, and it has been in use ever since. “Incidentally, the Prime Min ister of Tonga told us,” he remarked, “that his Government had received ex cellent value for its money. Presumably, Tongans had not always received such treatment!”

Those present included HRH Prince Tuboutoa, of Tonga, who was accom panied by a Burmese friend, a fellow student at the University of Sydney.

Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Wilkinson, who are well known throughout the Cook Group, have returned from NZ to take up resi dence at Rarotonga.

Mr. Syd. Richardson, of Wau, New Guinea, recently married Miss Betty Toby, of Sydney, at St. Augustine’s Church, Wau. Rev. V. H. Sherwin per formed the ceremony.