IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 8

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

RADIO INTERFERENCE.

TROUBLE FROM A.C. MAINS.

(To the Editor.)

From time to time in your paper reports have appeared regarding "the effective work done by the radio inspectors in curing interference to radio reception. I should '"like to say a few words on the subject of what they do not cure. All or most of the modern receivers have coverage of the short-wave bands as well as broadcast, or, to use technical terms, medium wave band. Xow mv contention is this: What is the use of the" short - wave band when the inspectors only guarantee you reception of your local medium-wave stations? In my locality, and I know of several more, a very persistent- A.C. main* interference creates so much noise (hat at times it is hardly possible to listen' to IZB or IYA. Several complaints to the radio inspector from both myself and neighbours brought him out. and the nsu-,:l excuse of trams was "riven. T am not on the main road and when the insppr-tor was a-ked whv the racket persisted after the trams had ceased he said he could not explain it. Shortly after this my neighbour interviewed the inspector who stated that the trouble was due to the' power line transformers, and to get the Tower Hoard to act a petition would have to be filled in. A form was obtained and duly completed with full particulars and returned. That was approximately ten months ajro. and notliinc further has been heard from him. while the nuisance continues unabated. The inspector stated that if a certain type of aerial was used with transformers it would reduce the noise, but not cure it. Xow why should anv listener have to go to this expense because of faulty power mains? I had a certified radio engineer come in and check over mv installation. and he assures me that the trouble is definitely due to mains interference. Beinj interested in radio as a hobby. I realise that passing motor cars and electrical equipment in the home do create a certain amount of interference on short wave, but not to anvwlicre near the same extent as that experienced in my locality. INTERESTED.

NORTHCOTE VEHICULAR.

The public of Auckland and distant parts should 'be advised that at the "protest meeting held at the King's Theatre, attended ibv over 1000 people, our representative on the Harbour Board did not state one sound reason for the elimination of our service. Among his reasons were that people from the Xorth did not know which wharf they were destined for. That is absurd when time-tables are on every ticket office, 011 every boat, and a large "sign is plastered up at the junction of the main NorMi Road and Wairau Roads, approximately five miles from either Birkenhead or Xorthcote wharves. Another reason was a reference to a sad accident which had 110 bearing on the subject whatsoever. I feel it is in the interests of many outside of Xorthcote to lend pressure and have this state of affairs altered. I am a daily traveller on the vehicular boats, and I can definitely s-tate that when vehicular boats used to call at both wharves with their loads. 7't per cent of the vehicles got off at Xorthcote. By the time the vehicles which chose Birkenhead wharf as their, destination and were journeying Xorth got to Highbury the vehicles from Xorthcote would be almost to Albany. Surely this is a definite reason for the expediency of a Xorthcote service. A CARRIER.

RACING CYCLISTS.

During the last few months there appears to have been a large number of bicycle accidents caused through collisions with cars. I have ■been a motorist for many years and I lave studied not the bicycle but the rider. The youth who rides foolishly ar,d takes needless risks should join a cyc-le club, where road sense is taught and discipline is applied. I write in support of the road racing cyclist. These boys travel from 200 to 300 mile? in racing and training durinjr the week, and they have very few accidents with cars. During the year each member of a clirb must attend lectures given by !Mr. Ainsworth and other officers of the Traffic Department. The boys do as they are told, and there are no complaints from the traffic officers. I have never seen a racing cyclist misbehave himself on the road. A few hours to race on a Saturday afternoon and a little more care on the motorist's part are all they ask. and that would be appreciated bv all. I would advise youths to join a cycle club: the sport and the line lot of bovs to be met are worth while. • ' WING-NUT.

CHANGED NAMES.

T would like to inform "Up She Goes" that T am also living in a street that I do not know. They chained the number of my house? and now they have changed the name of the street. Instead of being ■Station Terrace it is now Ohinerau Street. This is a bit of a tongue-twister, but I must say it is miles better than the old name. But. according to "Brett's Almanac." I live in Stapleton Street. I agree with "Up She Goes" when he says that "Mr. Bumbledom'' of the Town Hall should have given us some notification of our change of address. "What address should I send to my overseas friends, or should I ?ive them three and let them choose by savin?. "Eeney. meenev. mine v. moo"? "What should we do? " .TACK VHREWHISKERS.

NOISE ABATEMENT.

A noisy noise annoys an oyster ino«t, but the noise which annoys me most is the clanging, (banging noise of the doors on the Auckland Transport Board traincars of the newer types. Would it. not be possible, I wonder, to have rubber stoppers fitted to deaden the report when the doors are closed? Durinjr the inclement winter weather, there doors, are continually being opened and shut. I "wonder whether other city travellers are annoyed by this same irritation, or whether I am perhaps one of those ''noise"' cranks. MUSICAL BOX.

REPUDIATION

Perhaps -Mr. 11. S. Winthmp will kindly tell us to what extent other countries, including Xew Zealand, were in debt to the British Government at the end of the war. Have these debts been paid? 1 believe that if the debts owing to the Briti-li people at the close of tl*e war had been paid the British people could have repaid the United States in full and still have had a very considerable balance in hand. .T. MAI'MASTER.

THE BLACK CUFFS,

! A pamphlet, '-Reminiscences of the i Northern War,'' by Robert Hat ta way, colour and pay sergeant. H.M. .38th Regiment, recounts that the regiment arrived on the Waitemata on ■March 2-">. 1545. after a voyage of fourteen days from Sydney in H.M.S. North UStar, and disembarked in 'Mechanics' Bay. He isays: "This was the first detachment of the I old 'Black Cuffs' to arrive in the colony.'' i L. A. D. W FLLI AM SOX•