TRANS-TASMAN RADIO SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 12

TRANS-TASMAN RADIO SERVICE

The Awatea’s Part Radio-telephony, previously associated with calls to Australia and Britain, is taking on a new phase owing to the introduction into the trans-Tasman service of the Union Company’s liner Awatea, with its up-to-date equipment. The Postmaster-General, Hon. F. Jones, announced yesterday the Post Office has arranged a Tasman radio service by i which calls may be exchanged between passeitgers on the Awatea and any of the 130,000 telephone subscribers in New Zealand at all stages of the voyage. “Test communications between the department’s commercial radio station ZLW and the Awatea during the liner’s voyage to New Zealand,” explained the Post-master-General, “proved that the equipment on ship and shore is capable of giving absolutely clear reception over distances much longer than tlie route between New Zealand and Australia. Therefore, speech can be maintained at any time of the day It is proposed to charge 3/4 a minute, witli a minimum of 10/- (three minutes), and the calling schedule, having regard to radio watches maintained on the Awatea. will range over a period from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.. anil Sunday calling hours will be 5.30 p.m. Uli 8.30 p.m. Special calls can. however, be made at any time by prior arrangement"