F—l

Region 3 Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva, May to November, 1949 The New Zealand delegates were Messrs G. Searle and J. M. Power (Post Office) and F. W. Andrews (Air Department). The Conference prepared a plan for the assignment of radio frequencies for all types of use between 150 and 3,900 kilocycles to stations in Region 3, which covers South and East Asia and the Pacific areas, including New Zealand and Australia. Technical Plan Committee of the High-frequency Broadcasting Conference, Paris, June to December, 1949 This Committee, on which New Zealand was represented by Messrs E. W. de Lisle (Post Office) and N. B. Johnston (New Zealand Broadcasting Service), was appointed by the High-frequency Broadcasting Conference of Mexico City to prepare the additional phases of the basic plan agreed upon at Mexico City, 1948, in connection with the assignment of world-wide short-wave broadcasting frequencies. Provisional Frequency Board, Geneva The function of this Board is to regulate the use of radio frequencies in radio services not falling within the sphere of specialized Conferences. These are chiefly those in the fixed service and the maritime mobile service. The Board was in session from January, 1948, to February, 1950, but New Zealand was represented directly (by Messrs Searle and Power) only from March to December, 1949. Prior and subsequent to this period New Zealand's interests were watched by the Australian delegation. The radio Conferences are particularly important to New Zealand. Overseas shipping and air services depend upon radio for efficient operation, as also do many important internal services. And radio is increasingly important for overseas communication, a factor which could assume very grave importance in emergency, or if cable outlets were interrupted. Although considerable progress has been made in international negotiation, it is unfortunate that complete agreement is delayed by the political aspirations of some groups within the Union. So far as agreement has gone, New Zealand representation at the Conferences has been an essential safeguard to New Zealand's interests, and must continue to be. SUBMARINE CABLES Interruptions to and Repair of Cables On the 26th March, 1949, traffic over the Auckland-Suva telegraph cable was interrupted. Tests showed that the cable was broken approximately twenty-five miles from Auckland. The steamer " Matai " was chartered from the Marine Department and rapidly fitted out at Auckland as a cable ship. The vessel sailed from Auckland on the 11th April, and repairs to the fault which had been caused by a fishing-trawler were completed on the 13th April. During the progress of the above repairs, a high-resistance fault developed in the Norfolk Island - Suva telegraph cable at a point close to Norfolk Island. Traffic could still be passed but it was decided to take advantage of the " Matai " being already fitted out and to proceed immediately with the removal of the fault. Repairs were completed on the 6th May, On the 26th September, 1949, the Auckland - Norfolk Island telegraph cable was damaged in the section across Auckland Harbour. The trouble arose through a barge dragging her anchors across the line of the telegraph cables. Repairs were carried out with the co-operation of the Auckland Harbour Board, using a punt. Telegraph traffic was maintained during the repair operations by temporarily diverting the circuit to a telephone cable crossing Auckland Harbour.

21