HOSPITAL RADIO FUND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 January 1929, Page 5

HOSPITAL RADIO FUND.

EXPERTS REPORT ADOPTED. TENDERS TO BE INVITED. At a meeting of the general commitee of the Hospital Radio Fund, held last evening, it was resolved to accept the recommendation of the special committee, and adopt the report and specification of Mr. C. R. Russel, A.M.1.E.E., consulting expert, for the installation of radio in the Hawera hospital and nurses home, and to- empower Mr. Russell to call for tenders for carrying out the work. The outstanding facts. in connection with the project as it "stands at present are that Mr. Russel estimates that a first-class installation ..cam be made at a cost, within the amount the committee has in hand and that it is estimated that the work caii be completed within three months of the signing of' the contract. It came as a matter of surprise to a majority of the committee to find that the greater -proportion of the work, up to 75 per cent., according to Mr. Russell, is telephonic as distinct from radio. This means that the wiring and apparatus for distributing from the receiver (to the telephone units for the individual patients' plus the provision of equalising devices for ensuring an even clear tone in each unit, whether few or many are in use; is the business of the telephone engineer and. expert. Mr. Russell made it clear that his specifications were being made very strict upon the point that the result aimed at must he achieved by the contractor. He was not tying down contractors to any particular apparatus, thus avoiding "giving any proprietory a preference, and other possible difficulties. The particular apparatus to ‘be used must be named, but the essential thing was that the performance must be guaranteed. In reply to a question Mr. Russell stated that it was the usual practice to have wiring done by local workmen if an outside contractor secured ah installation of the kind. > -- ■ ■ Mr. Russell further advised the committee as to advantages and disadvantages in the everyday use of the installation when completed and showed how lie was providing for a scheme which avoided expense on batteries, expert attendance,, etc., while providing for the patients a clear yet soft and pleasant tone which would give the maximum of pleasure to the individual listener-in without causing any annoyance to others. This did not apply to the children’s ward for which a loud speaker was recommended. It was resolved further that the special committee “be empowered to carry out the .project, within the funds available, Mr. Russel to direct and aive the necessary certificates as to the work being carried out in accordance with specifications.