WIRELESS ON VESSELS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3997, 30 July 1913, Page 5

WIRELESS ON VESSELS

DRAFT REGULATIONS CONSIDERED. THE VIEWS OF OWNERS. I'BY TELEGRAPH —PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, July 29/ Regulations to make it compulsory that wireless should he installed on all New Zealand steamers carrying passengers and engaged in the foreign or intercolonial trade, and also on Home steamers authorised to carry not less than 50 passengers have been in preparation by the Marine Department. The Minister for Marine (Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) informed your representative this evening that the draft regulations had been submitted to the shipowners whose vessels would be affected bv them, and also to the New Zealand "Shipowners’ Federation, and that replies had been received from them. The Union Company had stated that it had already equipped all its passenger steamers _ engaged in the foreign or intercolonial trade at a cost of £6OOO per annum; that the. ferry steamer Wahine had been equipped, and that the Maori would be equipped before she started running again. The Company objected to being required to equip its home trade steamers on the ground that their voyages were only of a few hours’ duration ; that they were equipped with Morse signalling apparatus; that they were seldom more than five miles from land, and that owing to the short masts of some of them it would not be possible to radiate sufficient energy to obtain anything like a range of 100 miles. The Company also objected to having to employ a highly-qualified operator for coastal work, and suggested that the regulations should be carried out by the Post and Telegraph Department instead of by the Marine Department. The Northern Steamship Company, which owns coastal steamers only, objected to having to instal wireless on its vessels on the ground that its trade was almost entirely confined to the province of Auckland : that steamers were never out of sight of land in the day-time; that they were equipped with Morse signalling apnaratus, and that during the last 26 years wireless would not have been the means of saving life or property on its steamers. It expressed a hope also that if the Minister intended to bring the regulations into operation he would first receive a deputation from the Shipowners’ Federation. Messrs Jagar and Harvey, owners of the auxiliary schooner “Huanui,” trading to the" Cook Islands, stated that they did not expect this vessel would be required to carry wireless, as there were no shore stations in the Cook Group. The Shipowners’. Federation objected to the regulations applying to home trade steamers. It recognised the great value of wireless on passenger steamers making voyages for long distances from the coast, but considered it unnecessary for small vessels running close to the land. The Federation also asked the Minister to receive a deputation on the subject. The replies received from the various companies will be considered by the Minister for Marine.