WIRELESS ON THE MANAIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15562, 20 March 1914, Page 8

WIRELESS ON THE MANAIA

PASSING ON THE COST. APPARATUS MAY'BE USEFUL. [by TELEGRAPH.; correspondent.] Whangarei, Thursday. Recently, the Northern Steamship Co. approached the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce and urged the latter to join in a protest against the new regulation compelling the company to place a wireless installation on the steamer Manaia. An intimation was also given to the effect that if the company was put to what was regarded as an unnecessary expense, the cost would have to be passed on to the pub- i lic. The matter was again discussed at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, which was held last night. The president (Mr. D. W. Jack) said that the members had come to the conclusion that the subject was one in which they could not interfere. Other members expressed the opinion that the compulsory installation of wireless telegraphy on a number of the coastal boats was a good thing, as it might be of the greatest possible use in the case of home and inter-colonial vessels, similarly equipped, meeting with an accident while navigating the northern coast. In this connection the wreck of the Wairarapa was mentioned. Referring to the suggestion that the cost of a wireless equipment would be borne by the public, the president said that it would only comedo a very small amount when the increasing passenger service to Whangarei was taken into account.