WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17576, 29 June 1925, Page 1

WIRELESS ON SHIPS.

REGULATION HELD UP TILL JANUARY. (Special to “Star.") WELLINGTON, June 27. Tlie new regulations governing the installation of v'reless on vessels registered in New Zealand were gazetted to-day. They arc intended to minimise Ihe danger of coastal voyages, as exemplified in the loss of the Ripple. The da tc of their operation is Januarv 1, 1926. A full explanatory statement has been issued by the Minister of Marine, the lion G. J. Anderson. The Minister states that the old regulations applied to Home trade ships carrying 150 or more passengers, and to all foreign-go-ing ships. The scope is now much extended. The delay till January is intended to give time for importing and installing apparatus and training officers in its use. Provision is made meanwhile to enable smaller ships to be fitted with what is termed a “ home trade minor installation “ if it can be shown that the “ major home trade installation ” is unnecessary. Provisions arc also made, as in the case of every other country which has rlcalt with this subject, enabling the exemption of ships or classes of ships from the requirements to carry wireless if, having regard to the nature of the voyages in which the ship engages, or other circumstance of the case, the provision of wireless is unnecessary or impracticable. MAX Y 13OATS AI r FE<’TED. The Minister states: “Our regulations. so far as the requirement to carry wireless is concerned, go a good deal further than either Great Britain or the Commonwealth of Australia, in that every ship which carries more than twenty-five persons will be required to carry wireless. This requirement af- ‘ fects a considerable number of small coastal boats which carry .a few passengers. but whose voyages arc of short duration, generally in more or less sheltered waters, and whose construction is such that there is considerable difficulty in placing a wireless plant on board at all. They arc short of mast, in some cases have only one mast, and in any case present considerable difficulty in the erection of efficient aerials. The installations required in their case arc exceedingly simple to work, are practically fool proof, and are fully effective. A test carried out with such a set on board ship in Auckland and under the most adverse conditions of daylight and inductance proved that there was no difficulty in eommunicat ing with both I Radio Awanui and Radio Wellington. It has been decided, therefore, to per-

mit installations of the minor class to be put into all home trade ships, except those carrying over 400 persons, and which, in fact, are already installed with higher grade installations. The simpler sets may be operated by deck officers after passing a prescribed examination, which after January next will be incorporated in the ordinary examination for home trade masters and mates.” OFFICERS AS OPERATORS. The requirements with regard to instalkitF n. operators and listening in service for foreign-going, intercolonial and home trade ships carrying over 400 per--1 v 'V ,,KI be the same for New Zealand ships as for ships of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Australia. With regard to home trade ships carrying under 400 persons, however it has • been provided, with the consent, of the Merchant Service Guild, that deck officers shall do the work. The new regulations applv to cvcrv .ship registered in the Dominion and to all home trade ships, whether registered in New Zealand or not. which are- - (a) Of 1600 tons gross register or up wards; (b> carry more than twelve passengers ; (c) carry more than twentyfive persons, i.c., number of crew plus number of passengers, if any, the vessel is authorised to carry. Every ship coming under anv one of these categ<>ries,” stated the Minister, " must have a wireless installation, but the regulations exempt ships which are plying solely on lakes, rivers, harbours, or within river or extended river limits.” The regulations classify shif&s into four classes for the purpose of determining, first, what class of installation is necessary; secondly, what operators arc necessary; and. thirdly, what listening in service is to be rendered.