TELEPHONE IMPROVEMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1928, Page 8

TELEPHONE IMPROVEMENTS

NEW SYSTEM FOR N.Z. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 21. As one of the results of investigations made by the Chief Telegraph Engineer when he was abroad last year, it is proposed to introduce into New Zealand telephone practice at an early date what is known as “carrier current” telephony, one of the most remarkable of recent developments in the field of electrical communication. An announcement to this effect was made by the Postmaster-General, Hon. Mr. Nosworthy, in an interview. “Briefly,” said Mr. Nosworthy, “the carrier current system consists in. the application of radio frequency methods to existing telephone circuits, enabling additional telephone speech channels to be obtained without increasing the wires, which, however, form the guiding path fo'r the highfrequency currents, by the use of which additional speech channels are rendered practicable. The new process is in reality a system of wireless communication, in which the electric waves, instead of being broadcast, are directed along the metallic conductors of the wires already erected, without interfering with the purposes for which such wires were originally designed. By using the electro magnetic energy in this way, much lower power is required in the case of the well-known radio-telephone broadcasting stations. The most important feature of the new system, from a practical point of view, is the large •saving it effects in the installation costs. When it is realised that there is a practical limit to the number of wires that can be placed on a pole line, and that the toll lines involve heavy capital expenditure, as well as recurring annual charges for maintenance, the great savings which can be effected by imposing additional communication channels on the existing circuits will be appreciated. In addition to effecting a considerable saving in installation and line maintenance costs, the carrier system provides a very satisfactory speaking circuit, and, as compared with the well-known metallic wire circuit, gives louder speech, and is less subject to the interfering noises caused by he power lines and similar disturbing influences. Moreover, the carrier system possesses great flexibility, and has a unique application to the variety of conditions met with in a young and developing country, such as New Zealand. After careful consideration of the long distance telephone needs of the Dominion, and after the preparation of the ultimate scheme is complete, the execu tion of which will follow as the need arises, it has been decided to procure from the United Kingdom carrier equipment that will increase and greatly improve the toll facilities between Auckland and Hamilton and Palmerston North and their switching districts, and the scheme will also duplicate the arterial toll outlet connecting Christchurch with the northern districts of the South Island and with Wellington. The installation of this equipment will not only relieve the congestion which now exists between the places named, but will also provide a margin of circuits over and above immediate requirements, and will thus tend to promote traffic between points where, under the existing conditions, development has in the past been somewhat retarded. It is not expected that the delivering of the whole of the apparatus mentioned will be obtained until next year. It is expected, however, that the initial part of the equipment will reach New Zealand in a few months’ time.”