INTERFERENCE IN RADIO

“LEGISLATION NOT ENFORCED” DEPARTMENT BLAMED FOR APATHY Strong complaints that the Post and Telegraph Department had been apathetic to the trouble caused by radio interference were made at a meeting of the interference committee of the DX Radio Association last evening. It was stated that the legislation passed some time ago had never been enforced, and it was decided to approach Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., and ask him to take the matter up with the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones). “The legislation is not worth the paper it is written on,” said the chairman, Mr J. C. Stapleton, “Some people seem to think that the regulations are being enforced on private individuals and not on public bodies, such as the Tramway Board, but actually they are not being enforced on anybody. It has been suggested that a test case be brought, but there are so many loopholes in the regulations that if an offender were brought before the court a skilful lawyer would easily get him off.”

"Legislation a Piece of Bluff"

Mr Stapleton and Mr M. Wilson „ both said that the legislation, which -; had been gained by the persistent , action of the DX Association, was * nothing more than a piece of bluff on the part of the department to keep the association quiet. The association had written to the Post-master-General before the last election and were still awaiting a reply. In May, 1935, the chief radio engineer, Mr E. H. R. Greene, had promised that the roarer would be off the air in a fortnight, but this had not taken place. "The department either does not ■ know what to do or is afraid to do it," said Mr Stapleton. 'The radio inspector in Christchurch, Mr T. Gates, has done his best." The secretary, Mr E. C. M. Philpott, suggested that a petition should be drawn up and forwarded to the department. "The present Government has not had a push yet," said Mr Stapleton.. "I think we should approach the Government directly; petitions do not carry much weight. We should go to the head of the departmentwrite direct to the new PostmasterGeneral, or approach Mr E. J. Howard to take the matter up. He may have been more dubious about it when the last Government was in power, but now that his own party is in power he may be able to do something." "We have tried all the constitutional means possible -so far," said Mr Wilson, "and we have had no satisfaction. We should go direct to the House. This is for the benefit not only of long-distance radio but of all listeners." Mr Stapleton: The listeners do not think much of us. * Mr Wilson: They think more of us than you imagine. I have had the opportunity of going round" from house to house. Mr Stapleton:' The radio dealers are as apathetic as the amateurs. Mr Wilson: It is up to them to give assistance. The interference causes them to lose sales. • It was decided to write to Mr Howard asking him to take up the matter. Mr Wilson suggested that if -no satisfaction -was obtained, from, the Government a petition could then be drawn up. He said that no action had been taken so far with the Government because it was realised that a new Government would have many things to deal with, and they were waiting till it got into harness. *> "If Mr C. R. Russell had been appointed to the Broadcasting Advisory Board," said Mr Stapleton, "he would have tackled the matter of interference, and that is probably the reason why he did not get on the board." Filtering of Apparatus Urged l It was stated by Mr E. W. Watson that many people thought that the radio roarer had not been located, but actually it had been definitely' traced in an ultra-violet apparatus, of which the output was one quarter of a kilowatt. Mr Philpott: If the violet ray apparatus was filtered to eliminate the roarer it would not affect its efficicv.cy. It needs to be surrounded with a screen, such as that used at the Lewisham Hospital. Mr Stapleton said that about 5000 listeners to 3YA within a three-mile radius were affected by the roarer. Members said that it was so bad in Bealey avenue that people would not buy sets. "If the roarer were eliminated," said Mr Wilson, "80 per cent, of the interference would be stopped." Mr Stapleton said that 90 per cent. would be stopped, and that if the regulations for filtering electrical apparatus were enforced the remaining 10 per cent, would be grad~ ually eliminated. He added that much trouble was being caused by neon lights on alternating currents, which caused a continuous clicking sound. Interference was rife, the cause was known, but the Post and Telegraph Department had not done its part. "There is a lot of talk about run- ■ ning shoes at present," said Mr Philpott; "we want running shoes for the radio roarer."