M.O.W. Radio Link For Civil Emergency

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 10

M.O.W. Radio Link For Civil Emergency

More than 400 base and mobile radio stations of the Ministry of Works, used daily to expedite communications and work on its varied undertakings would play a major role in the event of

civil emergency. i Emergency instructions I issued to staff say under ; “basic assumptions” that a severe earthquake or other disaster would cut all telephone lines and block | other means of communication except by radio or by runners.

The Ministry is building up a nation-wide network of base arid mobile medium high frequency and very high frequency radio sets. Base sets are at district, project and residency headquarters: the mobile sets are mounted in utility vehicles, trucks and cars used by engineers, overseers. foremen and others on the supervision of a variety of jobs. Where local electrical noise is high, remote receiving and transmitting stations are being established. These are controlled by means of telephone or ultra high frequency radio links.

The greatest number of sets is employed during highway construction and maintenance, many on hydroelectric projects, others at olant and mechanical servicing depots, and on irrigation schemes, aerodrome and dam construction, hydrological surveys and geothermal investigations.

The Ministry has in the medium high frequency range, which covers several hundred miles, 26 base sets and more than 300 mobile sets. There are 12 base sets and more than 180 mobiles in the very high frequency range, in which communication is limited to a relatively small geographical area. Auckland, for example, has three very high frequency base sets and 25 mobiles, Turangi (Tongariro power development) and Mangakino one hase set each and a total of 58 mobiles, and Benmore, Aviemore and Maryburn, on the Waitaki river, base stations at the various sites plus 52 mobiles.

Very high frequency coverage is extended by the use qf repeater stations such as those on Mount Pihanga, on the Tongariro scheme. Gawlor Downs in Mid Canterbury, and Mount Mary, near Pukaki, South Canterbury. Further medium high frequency base stations, including Gisborne, Wairoa and New Plymouth, are shortly to be established and about 100 more sets are fitted to vehicles in various districts.

In the ordinary day-to-day work of the Ministry’s forces,

districts and residences can communicate by radio with overseers and foremen on various jobs, find out how the work is going, issue instructions in the light of information received and so on. Likewise, those out on jobs, sometimes 50 miles or more from a headquarters, can seek advice on difficulties suddenlymet, summon assistance, or replacement vehicles or equipment in the event of breakdown, and generally keep in touch.

On a long highway job overseers at various points are able to talk to each other by mobile radio without travelling several miles to meet.

The chain of communications goes right through to district headquarters and in the near future will be extended to head office in Wellington. Teleprinter communication is also used between major undertakings and districts and head office. Under favourable conditions medium high frequency sets can communicate between points as far apart as Dunedin and Auckland, or the Haast Pass road and Napier. In addition to facilitating normal operations in the field the radio network is able to supply first-hand information during abnormal weather, of the state of highways and roads. Extensive as the coverage now is it will be even greater progressively in the next 12 months or so. The Ministry recognises that the effectiveness of its operations in a civil emergency will be largely dependent on the efficiency of its communication systems, for which the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Division is responsible. The Ministry of Works has already received requests from other Commonwealth countries for its Wellington district civil defence booklet to staff containing a background statement and general emergency instructions. This booklet explains the necessity for taking civil defence measures, gives all staff a broad appreciation of the policy and role of the Ministry in civil defence matters, and advises them what to do in a district emergency.

In general. Ministry of Works forces at all levels are expected, in a civil emergency, to concentrate on those tasks for which the department has the special skills, manpower and material. These tasks include the restoration of road and other surface communications, water supplies and damaged buildings and equipment required for essential Government services, assistance in flood control and setting up emergency shelters and also

rescue operations, especially where these involve engineering skill or equipment of particular value.

The comprehensive radio network cover now existing, and being intensified, was not established for civil emergency purposes but to assist the Ministry’s work forces, in offices or outdoors, to “get on with the job.” The civil emergency role is complementary. But it is a vital facility in the efficient use of the skilled engineering and labour forces, and the vast range of equipment, which the Ministry of Works has at its disposal through New Zealand.