WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

PROVISION FOR NEW ZEALAND. STEAMERS' SYSTEM MAY BE INSTALLED SOON. AN AI'STRALASJAN CONFERENCE. (t'liOM Oltlt OWN COKHKSI'OXnENT.) WELLINGTON, December 1. A provision of the new Shipping and Seamen Rill, which wan agreed to in Committee of the House to-night, stnteis that the Governor may from time to time by Ouler-in-Coitncil make regulations' requiring ships -registered in New Zealand and carrying passengers to be provided with apparatus for transmitting messages by meant! of wireless telegraphy, and may by such regulations prescribe lines not exceeding iJfaO for any breach thereof by the owners or master of a ship.

The Hon. J. A.Millar, in referring to this dause, stated that a conference would bo held shortly in regard to the establishment of wireless telegraphic stations for NewZealand and Australia, He thought that ships plying between this country and Australia should be fitted up with wireless telegraphic apparatus in a few months, and Mr Massey said it appeared to him that the Ministry was putting the carl before the horse. There were at present no wireless stations in New Zealand, so that it would be useless to tit cdtips with the apparatus. The proper thing war; to compel ships to provide the apparatus when the stations were erected. Tho Minister was taking power whic.lt he would not. need to exercise for a very long time.

Tho Minister replied that if the liill was received buck from tlie Imperial authorites in 12 months they would 1 bo lucky. The last bill was not received back for 15 months. In the most favourable circumstances the delay would be nine months. If anything was done, as ho understood Australia was about to do, to establish stations, and Xew Zealand desired to do the same, it would be neces-

sary to wait till Parliament met to get the necessary legislation.

Mr Herdman said thai the question of compelling ships under British law to carry wireless telegraphic apparatus had been considered by tho lust Shipping Conference, at which Australia and New Zealand were represented. The matter was referred to tho Hoard of Trade, who, ho jolicvcil, concluded that the time was not yet ripe for passing any law to compel ships subject to the law of Great Britain to carry wireless telegraphic apparatus. If Unit was so the proposal seemed rather premature in New Zealand, where the

shipping was not one-liundrnxHh part of tho shipping of Great Britain

Mr Millar said it was true that the Board of Trade had declared that the, time was not yet ripe. The reason was, systems of wireless telegraphy under investigation in Great Britain. Mr Marconi had a station, hut there had been mora developments which had not yet been made public. He thought that tho clause wa's perfectly safe It would prevent the necessity for coming down again for legislation, and it would do no harm, for till the stations were equipped no one would ask ship-ov.uer? to install the anparatus. It would only apply to vessels trading a given distance from tho const and carrying passengers.

The Prime Minister urged the necessity of putting tho proposal through. Authority was given three sessions ago by Parliament for establishing a 'system or wireless telegraphy. A meeting was to be held in Melbourne on the 16th of this month, at which representatives of the Pacific islands, the Australian States, and New Zealand, which had appointed a representative, were to be present. There had been a movement for some time with the object of establishing a system of wireless telegraphy to cover the whole of the Pacific islands. Australia, and New Zealand. So far Xew Zealand had not sub-

scribed to the proposal which had been made, because it win more important that, this country should wait for tho latest, development in wireless telegraphy, and that we were oil the eve of great developments wa« beyond question. Mi Marconi and Mr Tcsla, of America, had both informed him personally within ihc hist fewmonths that during this year there would be a very great advance in connection with the system. Ho wanted to bo ready for that development, the chief object- being that people travelling by steamer should be able to keep in (ouch with the land and that their safety should lm ensured. Unless the system was applied to steamers half its advantage would be lest. He would not be at all surprised to sec this country within the next 12 months going in for a system of wireless telegraphy, by which we could communicate with Australia day or niiht. At present communication could be obtained for 300 miles ill the daytime, and 1200 miles at night, but a system was wanted that would extend across the ocean by day as well as night.