Need for Portable Stations

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 10

Need for Portable Stations

THE experience of the past fevy weeks, -slates the Wellington Dost, has suggested that- it may be necessary for the Government to consider establishing at strategic points, powerful radio stations, with engine-driven generators, .suitable for transport by motor vehicle, in case of urgent need where the, telegraphic system does not exist or breaks down at a. critical time. Had, such •equipments.been available at the. time of the earthquake they would have been invaluable. Such portable stations could of course be specially located so that they would be exceptionally sale from damage by lire or earthquake it might be considered that the cost of a number of portable radio stations would be unduly high in view of the small likelihood of their being needed. But this is Imly the familiar argument of the man who says insurance costs too much to be worth while. Had the main thrust of last, week's earthquage been exerted inland of Napier instead of to tlio' eastward, the wrecked towns might have been without reliable communication with the rest of the country for'a. day or more, and the tragedy would have been enormously, worse