RADIO RECEPTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18204, 27 September 1933, Page 11

RADIO RECEPTION

INTERFERENCE PROBLEM SUGGESTED SCHEME Recommendations that tho Post and Telegraph Department should act as a clearing-house, lor complaints ol interference with radio reception and that regulations should be made for the control of apparatus disturbing broadcasting reception were made at the annual conference of the Electrical Supply Authorities Engineers’ Association at Wellington. A special committetc had been set up, and in presenting its report, tin: chairman, Mr. George Laueidan, explained that tiie Government hail set up a, committee which included representatives of power board and supply engineers to report on radio interference. The recommendations made, by the committee, said the chairman, were along tile lines that the. P. and I. Department, should act as a clearing-house ;for complaints of interference. and should investigate and allocate the responsibility for the removal or alleviation of interference. It, was suggested that the department, should co-operate as far as practicable with electric suplily and tramway authorities and users of disturbing electrical equipment with a view to suggesting remedial measures. It, was also recommended that initial' regulations be made requiring! anyone

usiiv apparatus causing disturbance to remove tin* cause or take such remedial stops as might he considered by the Postmaster-General to ho reasonable in t lie rii’cumstaucos. It. was also considered desirable, that (here should lie a. prohibition of the installation of domestic and other appli antes capable ol causing iiitei’lereuce with broadcast reception unless supplied with means for absorbing and preventing the radiation of high-frequency oscillations. In the opinion of the committee, said the chairman, the most satisfactory way to give effect to that recommendation would be to prohibit the sale of such appliances l>v control of importation or manufacture in the Dominion.

To deal with cases of appeal from the decision of the Postmaster-General, it was advised that a special committee should be set up. Recommendations such as he had outlined, said the chair man, would protect the interests of supply authorities, lie moved Ihe adoption of tin l repoi t.

FINDING OF F.S. ODMMITTKK .Mr. L. B. Hutton (Southland) drew particular attention to the finding of the American committee which said in no uncertain manner that ordinances issued in the past relating to radio interim nee had been generally ineffective; m other words it was a warning to “go slow. The local, committee, in its recommendations, made no reference to the payment of cost, and it would he interesting to know who would pay in the ease ol an investigation directed by the. P. and I. Department which had proved ol no value.

Mr. Blank agreed that amendments to the Act. were desirable so that regulations could be made govt ruing the matter. Bower boards and power engineers would realise that ll would pay to assist, in removing the troubles and causes likely to create a. nuisance to radio, service. The speaker referred to particular types of interference which occurred at i'alineiston North and Napier. In one ease the complaint was in regard to a, motor, and the owner refused to make any adjustment or allow any inspection. The Government should have, the power to compel such an owner to adopt, remedial measures in order tfmt the plant should not annoy people, in the neighborhood. It was hoped that legislative, action would he taken during the session. HIGHER POWER STATIONS Mr. IT, F. Toogood (Wellington! agreed that the increased use of higher power broadcasting stations would ensure a. better coverage of the country, higher field strength for most communities, and would improve general reception. Some trouble, was caused in trying to get distant stations with attenuated reception. It there were two