WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 177, 30 June 1925, Page 5

WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

GOYER NMENT’S INTENTIONS

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 29

In the House of Representatives this evening Air Eraser complained that in spite of tho unanimous desire ol the House the Government had not insisted on all ships registered in New Zealand carrying wireless. If he had misread the regulations he would be glad to be corrected, but he was convinced that if the present regulations had been in force years ago the position of the Ripple, which foundered off Cape Palliser, would not have improved one hit. He wanted the Minister to explain his difficulties and to state to the House frankly what attitude the shipping companies took up towards this proposal to fit up small ships with wireless. •Sir John Luke deprecated attacks on shipping companies because wireless could not prevent disaster oil all occasions.

The Hon. G. J. Anderson said that Mr Eraser's condemnation of the wireless regulations was not justified. The regulations were the most advanced in the world. It was impracticable to carry wireless operators on all small ships and they must be practical. They had the best possible advice to aid them and the regulations had been framed in accordance with that advice. He was assured that if these regulations had been in force the Ripple would have come under them. The shipping companies had not in any way influenced the action of the Government. In future deck officers of ships which came under the regulations would have to pass examinations necessary to enable them to work wireless plants. Jhe Government was open to receive any suggestions, but at present he believed the Government had done the best thing possible. Mr McCombs urged the Minister to instal on small vessels wireless instruments which would send out automatic signals. The Minister replied that they had enquired about these instruments and found they wquld be no uso whatever.