WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 12

WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

EXTENT OF COMPULSION. REASON FOR EXEMPTIONS. CONSIDERATION FOR OFFICERS. [By telegraph. —special reporter. J WELLINGTON. Friday "As time goes on every vessel .which leaves harbour will be equipped with wireless, but it is not practicable to enforce this at the present time," said the Minister of Marine, Hon. G. J- Anderson, in 'he House of Representatives this afternoon. " I agree that every vessel should have wireless, but if we insist on it now it will mean that a large uamber of officers who have grown old in the service on small boats will be thrown out of employment. They cannot go back to school like the young men and learn all about wireless." Continuing, the Minister paid a tribute to the work that was being done by the officers of the Marine Department m teaching wireless, and he foreshadowed the rapid arrival of the time when all officers in the merchant marine would know how to work the wireless apparatus on their boats. It was the intention of the department, as the supply of officers with wireless knowledge became greatei, to reduce the number of exemptions. At present vessels which did not carry more than 20 persons were not required to be equipped with wireless and probably the next step would be a reduction of the exemption to vessels which do not carry more than 15 persons all told. Mr Anderson further' mentioned that he did not consider it practicable to insist that such small vessels should carry an officer who would do nothing else but attend to the wireless. He pointed out also that should any small vessel become distressed it would be necessary for all the officers to give a hand with the boats