RADIO RESEARCH

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21989, 13 January 1937, Page 3

RADIO RESEARCH

WORK IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND PLEA FOR CO-OPERATION [THE FBESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, January 12. The great importance of radio research to New Zealand, and the needfor co-operation between the Dominion and Australia on the subject, were stressed by Professor J. P. V. Madsen, of the University of Sydney, and president of the astronomy, mathematics, and physics section of the Science Congress. . ■ . . . . It was not at all safe in this subject, he said, to rely on the work of investigators in other parts of the world, as had been done in many other spheres. Information already obtained in Australia showed conditions in the southern hemisphere to vary in many respects from those in the north, so that reliance on results from the other side of the world could be very misleading. External and internal communication, meteorology, and aviation, were some of the directions in which radio research was of vital importance to Australia and New Zealand. Work had been carried on in Australia under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, through its radio research board, for the last seven years, about £SOOO a year being available for the purpose. Results of great value to the Post and Telegraph and Defence Departments had been achieved, as well as scientific work which had attracted much attention abroad. It was becoming essential that a serious co-operative effort in this work should be established between Australia and New Zealand. Triangulation with observing stations at Syd-. ney. Brisbane, and Auckland could render great service in trie development of aviation, meteorology, and in scientific investigation generally. The Dominion fortunate m having some very competent investigators, such as Professor F. W. G. White, recently appointed to the chair of physics at Canterbury University College, Dr. Barrett, Dr. D. Brown, of Auckland University College, and others, but at present they had absolutely no facilities. If the Government was prepared to supply the small amount necessary for additional technical assistance and experimental equipment, results out of all proportion to the cost could be achieved. The Australian authorities would welcome co-operation, and in some cases would be prepared to supply special equipment. . . "Quite apart from the value of this work at ordinary times, these forms of communication are vital from a defence point of view during abnormal times," said Professor Madsen. "The more knowledge we can gain of such services the greater is our protection.'