WIRELESS ON STEAMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8366, 28 February 1913, Page 3

WIRELESS ON STEAMERS

PROPOSAL BY MARINE DEPARTMENT. Press Association. AUCKLAND. February 27. The Minister of Marine (Hon; F. M. B. Fisher) was waited upon this morning by a large and representative deputation representing the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation relative to the number of disabilities and the harassing regulations under which owners of coastal shipping at present labour. The first question broached was that of wireless telegraphy on coastal steamers, Captain It. C. Hammond, assistant ' manager of the Northern Company, being the spokesman. There was some doubt, he said, as to which of the new regulations regarding the installation of wireless on coasting steamers was to be carried out. At the present time all coastal vessels were fitted with the Morse code signalling apparatus either with electric Bght, or if the boat did not possess it, then with a Morse lamp with which all coastal officers were familiar. Lighthouses and signal stations were 'also equipped with a Morse lamp with the use of which the keepers were familiar.

“Let me explain the intention of the department before you go further,” said the Minister. “So far as wireless is concerned; the department proposes that it shall be carried on all large passenger ships and ferry boats like the Maori, for instance, but it is not intended that it shall be installed on small vessels.” In reply to' Captain Hammond Mr Fisher said he was not quite sure what basis would be taken, but the tion would be made as reasonable asT possible. Shipowners would also bo given an opportunity of considering the regulation before it was put into operation. ' . . ’ “I think,” he added, “that it’, is advisable, as a matter of course, for the department to submit the regulations to the association before putting them into force. In-the past it has been often very harassing to owners arid annoying to officers that the department baa neglected to consult the association in this respect, and we wish to avoid that sort of thing in the future.” . The Minister remarked that since he had been in charge of the Marine Department he had - come to the conclusion that the officers of the department had been bound down to carry oat regulations not altogether applicable to our shipping. . ■ . “I say, therefore,”-said the Munster, “that the Marine Department should have more discretionary powers, for 1 do not believe that our department can make one law to apply to all classes of vessels. My chief purpose in visiting Auckland is to take away, as far as possible, the" harassing restrictions put on the owners without endangering the public safeguards. “What T should like you, gentlemen, to do,” went on Mr Fisher, “is to set up a small special, committee of two or three to meet Captains Fleming and Atwood and come to an agreement on as many points as possible, and then come to me with those you are not able to agree upon,. and we will see what can be done. I want to get the matter settled as speedily as possible. Make your demands, therefore, in specific terms, and if you cannot agree with the department’s officers come to me and-let us see what we can arrange. Xhe officers of the department have been tied down by the regulations as much as the shipowners. They have to carry out hard and fast rules even if they are not-wise ones. It is all right so far as the safety of lives and the general protection of the public is concerned, but-we wish our officers to use a little more discretion. We must, therefore, give them more discretionary power, else we shall never arrive at anything satisfactory.” Several matters which it was intended to lay before tlfe Minister were held in abeyance till after a conference had been agreed upon.