Radio Telephone

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 128, 2 June 1936, Page 12

Radio Telephone

PURSUIT OP WHALES COOK STRAIT ENTERPRISE For tho first time in New Zealand radio telepliony is to be used in directing the operations of whale-chasers, Arrangements are being made by A. Perano and Company, of Picton, which operates one of tho two whaling stations in New Zealand, to have radio telephone apparatus installed at its lookout station at the entrance to Troy Channel, and on the Tuatea, the mother ship of the company's whale-chasers. The apparatus, which has been constructed at Christchurch, was tested at the week-end and was to be sent to Picton immediately for installation. The successful operation of tho ■ appa--ratus should result in larger catches, a reduction in the working costs of tho whaling fleet, and a considerable saving of time. Mother Ship and Chasers

Tho whaling fleet consists of the mother ship and a number of fast chasers. In the past the fleet has had to be at the base to receive instructions from the look-out station. When a whale wa3 sighted tho fleet set out, the motor ship usuall arriving at tho scene of operations after the chasers had caught and flagged the whale. The fleet would then return to the base with the whale towed by tho mother ship and receive any further instructions.

Now, however, tho radio telephone apparatus will allow, communication to be established between tho look-out station and the mother ship when the fleet is out in Cook Strait, and the fleet will bo able to receive directions without coming back to tho base.

Commencement of Season •; ‘ The whaling season began last week —an unusually early opening. If continues for about four months, and last season 52 whales were caught. However, it is estimated that fully twice that number would have been caught if there had been communication between the base and the fleet such as should be given by radio telephone. The apparatus is as simple to use as an ordinary telephone, and the reproduction is through an ordinary loudspeaker. The only controls are an "on-and-oft’” switch and a switch for changing from the transmitter to the receiver, while a meter on the panel registers the aerial output. A similar apparatus was installed last year on the Clearance Reserve estate, Kaikoura, for giving communication between the home station and the back station at Quail Flat, thus bridging mountainous country on which no telephone . line could withstand the severity of winter storms. ‘ t