Peripheral Politics? Antipodean Interventions in Imperial News and Cable Communication (1870–1912)

From outback icon to imperial time lord: ‘reinventing’ Sir Charles Todd (1910–2010)

“…78 The part which Todd played in these developments, including his ability to uphold maintenance of existing cable and colonial arrangements to the detriment of the eastern sea-board colonies, is of renewed interest, placing him out of step with British and Australian movements to democratise communications at the turn of the century. 79 Todd's position at intercolonial conferences on the value of the OTL was emphatic. He argued that the construction and ongoing losses incurred by the Line, for which South Australia extracted its own transit charges, had been to the benefit of all the colonies.…”

‘Reciprocal and Universal’: Robert Donald, The Press Union and Empire Wireless 1920–1933

“…This chapter seeks to further unravel the paradox of his dual role as press spokesman and wireless advocate, based upon the premise that such advocacy 'can only be fully understood in the context of its enduring dissatisfaction with pre-war cable and news arrangements.' 3 This article argues that the leadership provided by Robert Donald as a leading member of the Press Union needs to be better acknowledged and documented. A significant player on wireless policy, Donald eclipsed both Harry Brittain and Harry Lawson (Lord Burnham) as an authoritative and critical voice at subsequent imperial press conferences.…”