FORMATION OF RADIO RESEARCH BOARD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 121, 16 February 1937, Page 8

FORMATION OF RADIO RESEARCH BOARD

Proposal Commended

A proposal recently placed before the Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, for the formation of a radio research board in New Zealand, was strongly commended by Professor F. W. G. White, who after five years on the staff of King’s College, London, returned by the Wanganella yesterda.v to take the chair of physics at Canterbury Uni-' versify College. “Radio research boards have been in existence in England and Australia for some years,’’ said Professor White. “Under their guidance much valuable scientific knowledge lias accumulated.

In England it has been the policy of the board to devote its attention to fundamental problems of wireless communication such as, for example, the way in which wireless waves spread out over the surface of the earth, or the electrical structure of the upper atmosphere which is known to affect the transmission of wireless waves over long distances. Such information can best be collected and studied by scientists and will ultimately be made available in suitable form to commercial engineers and to broadcasting companies who have neither the facilities or the organisation necessary tfor this work.

"There is at present excellent work being done in New Zealand, which is worthy of support. One example is the work of Mr. G. A. Perldie, at Victoria College. Mr. Peddie has been studying tlie electrified regions of the upper atmosphere, which are vitally concerned in the propagation of wireless waves which come to us over long distances. The study of these regions is an important part of the programmes of radio research boards in England and Australia. It has been found in these countries that there are only two main electrified regions. “Mr. Peddie has ascertained that the electrical conditions over New Zealand are more complex and has identified a lower region of electrification which has not been observed in Australia. The presence of these more complex regions in our atmosphere must considerably affect the reception of wireless signals from overseas and those sent out from our own stations. "A New Zealand radio research board may rely upon the co-operation of similar' boards in England and Australia. Such co-operation will be of immense value, if we are to assist in the solution of the difficult problems encountered in inter-Empire communications. I know that the engineers of the British Post Office are very anxious that we should collect data of a scientific nature in the Southern Hemisphere, which will help them in their endeavours to establish more satisfactory commercial and broadcasting services to the Dominions. It is obvious that all the assistance we can give in this problem will ultimately lie to our advantage,, and may prove of the utmost importance in times of crisis.”