RADIO CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19988, 3 November 1927, Page 7

RADIO CONFERENCE

IMPORTANT DECISION FAVOURABLE SETTLEMENTS (A. & N.Z. > NEW YORK, Nov. 1. Mr Brown, interviewed, said that three subjects of outstanding importance to Australia and New Zealand before the Radio Conference had been settled favourably to these countries, and the committee’s reports would unquestionably receive the approval of the conference itself.

These things were the Cortina report, the standing of amateurs, and spark sets. The retention of the present tenletter code practice meant the saving of thousands of pounds annually to the public of Australia and New Zealand and it had been a distinct achievement to have had consideration of the Cortina report deferred. Mr Brown continued: “We recognise the high value f the amateur as contributing notably to the advancement of radio science. We hope to have the conference not only recognise this, but definitely to allot special bands, probably six, going to 200 metres, to the amateur.

“It was originally suggested that spark sets on vessels should be elimineatd in 1930, the in 1935, and I suggested 1940. We feci that such sets are particularly useful for distress signals. The immediate elimination of the sets would have involved a large expenditure on new equipment for our coastal vessel, which find these excellently adapted to their needs. “There have been two major problems of a broad international character before the conference up to the present, namely regulations where communication systems are in private hands, as opposed to Government control of cables. The settlement of this issue has been indicative of the important work this conference is destined to accomplish. The question of voting power is still being discussed, but there is every reason to believe that it will be amicably settled.’*