Radio Research

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 10

Radio Research

EMINENT NEW ZEALANDER RETURNS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. i Professor F. W. G. White, a young New Zealander, arrived by the Wanganella to take up the chair of physics at Canterbury University College. In an interview ho referred to the proposal arising out of the recent ecieuco congress at Auckland that there should be a radio research board in New Zealand. Professor White was one of the suggested personnel. Radio research boards, ho said, had been in existence in Englund and Australia for some years, and under their guidance much valuable scientific knowledge had been accumulated. Thero was at present some excellent work in New Zealand worthy of support, one example being that of Mr G. A. Poddie, of Victoria University College. He had been studying tho electrical regions o£ the upper atmosphere, which were vitally concerned xn .'the propagation of the wireless waves Iwhich came to us over long distances. "Tho study of these regions," ho isaid, "is an important part in the rcsoarch programmes of tho radio research boards in England and Australia, land it has been found in these counjtrios that thero are only two main electrified regions. Mr I'cddie has found that eloctrical conditions over Now Zealand aro more complex and has identified a lower region of electrification which has not been observed in Australia. The presence of these moro complex regions in our atmosphere have a most considerable effect on the reception of wireless signals from overseas and also the waves sent out from our stations." | A New Zealand radio research board could roly upon the co-operation of 'similar boards in England and Australia, he added, and suen co-operation lwouid.be of immense value if Now Zealand was to assist in tho solution of tho Jprobloms encountered in intra-Empire communications, 110 knew that tho engineers of the British Post Office [were very anxious that New Zealand jshould collect data of a scientific naturo lin tho southern hemisphere which would jholp them in their endeavours to establish more satisfactory commercial and ibroadcaating services to the Dominions, lit, was obvious that all th© assistance (Now Zealand could give in this problem would ultimately bo to our advantago and might prove of the utmost importance in times of crisis. Professor White is accompanied by his wife, who has taken her M.B. degree in London and has made a special! study of puerperal fever.