Govt ‘Uninformed’ On Omega Aspects

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 12

Govt ‘Uninformed’ On Omega Aspects

“We express concern that the Government showed itself uninformed about the scientific aspects of the Omega navigation system before the appearance of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s report,” says a circular by Messrs G. L. Austin and D. R. Hutton, of the physics department of Canterbury University. Their circular is at present being distributed at the university.

“For example, on June 24, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said: “The system would, therefore, be of particular value in and around the countries in which stations are established . . .’ whereas the Royal Society report says (page 23) ‘a station cannot be used for a navigation fix if the receiver is within 600 miles radius of the station . . . the needs of coastal shipping and internal airlines could be better served by siting the station so that it is at least 600 miles away from New Zealand.’ “The Government was uninformed on this important matter—and so, can the people of New Zealand have confidence that the Government is now aware of the military and strategic implications of the system, and has considered them?” the circular asks. The circular says the Royal Society did not discuss military or strategic implications as this was not in the terms of reference but, as most of the committee’s members were Government employees, they presumably had access to military information available to the Government.

“Surprisingly, therefore, the report said (on page 6): ‘From the best information available

we estimate that Omega signals can be received and used by submarines operating with submerged aerials ... we have no information as to whether this can be done in practice.’ “Apparently both the committee and the Government have not read freely-available journals, e.g. ‘Electronics,’ July 11, 1966, which says: The Navy estimates that it will spend about sl2sm to put Omega into operation with s6sm for stations and another s6om for receivers for all ships, most planes and all submarines . . and a press statement of the Department of Defence, Pentagon, Washington says: ‘Omega can be conceived as a generalpurpose, completeiy-global, all-weather navigation system for use in airborne, surface, and submerged submarine applications.’ “These statements appear to indicate that it can, indeed, be ‘done in practice,’" the circular says.