["C.Q.D.", The West Australian, Tuesday 10 August 1909, page 5]
C.Q.D.
To the Editor.
Sir,--
With the fate of the Blue Anchor liner Waratah hanging for some days now in the balance, with all its consequent uncertainty and anxiety to all who understand what diverse dangers threaten the ocean traveller, the mind naturally reverts to the recent similar instance of the Baltic and Republic, with its heroic Marconi operator, John R. Binns, son of a railway porter, and the still more recent Cunard wreck upon the Azores. Coming nearer home we find an anomalous condition of affairs. Vessels provided with Marconi apparatus, capable of ascertaining a seafaring wanderer's whereabouts in as many minutes as the hours required by steamers sent out in search; we also find the total absence of this apparatus from our shores while Federal legislators beguile the time of the country with dialogues similar to the one in progress previous to the recent lamented occurrence in the Federal House. Should the moral of the temporary disappearance and search for the vessel not be forced upon the attention of the Federal authorities with a view to the immediate putting in hand of the projected Marconi stations upon the points of the entire continent already promised, and amongst them primarily that of Fremantle, dealing as it does with the long stretch of sea in the direction of the Cape, reminiscent of the broken tailshaft of the Boveric some years since, the presence of our Premier at the Conference now proceeding would be most opportune for drawing attention to this most urgent matter.
I may add that the letters "C.Q.D.," which form the heading of this letter, are the Marconi distress signal.--
Yours. etc.,
PROGRESS.
Kalgoorlie, August 5.
