WIRELESS OPERATORS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3082, 12 May 1917, Page 10

WIRELESS OPERATORS

SHORTAGE IN NEW ZEALAND

; ' The shortage of wireless - operators : iUiS, mentioned at yesterday's sitting of tho Third Wellington Military Seri i.Vice Board, which had before it "an ap- . peal made by the Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., on behalf of Robert Sharland Taylor, employed as radio-fele-grapbist on a New Zealand steamer. ■ (Exemption had been granted- in other .eases of a. similar character, but tho Sward now asked for further information regarding the supply of operators and the prospect of releasing men who ' : were members of tho First Division. . r : s Tile local inspector for Amalgamated .Wireless, Ltd. (Jlr. Mulholland), said [ . that there was an actual shortage of % '.'wireless operators at tho present tinio, •and it was essential that the ships, especially the transports, slioufd be /supplied with qualified men. His com- ' $any had 110 .operators, all unmarried -■men, but only fifteen or twenty of thorn .were Now Zealanders, and so members fcf tho First Division. Tho -others i .were domiciled in Australia. At least ifive of the New Zealanders wore working on New Zealand transports. Efj [forts had been mado to Becure additional men, but without, much success. jMany of the learners did not complete | ftbeir courses. Some of. them had been Called up and taken, into camp. All jinen wlio had qualified recently in tho {New Zealand schools tia-cl been en- ; igaged byiim for work on New Zealand itransports, on behalf of the Transport fßoard. , T)>o shortage of operators was pirailarly aouto in Australia.. : In answer to a question Mr. Mulholilarid said that in the United Kingdom p. wireless, operators were not allowed to ' tenter the army. . Mr. M. J. Mack, a member of the - |si'oard, said that it appeared some ad,'ditional men were qualifying in New 'Zealand, while at tho same timo the /number of ships to bo served was decreasing. He would like some addU ; tional information on the point. .31r.. Miilholland...said that his corei .pally had considered the desirability pof bringing Australian operators to (Now Zealand to work on coastal ships.' jflfjo asked if these men would become "iliablo for, service undor New Zealand -military law. i . Tho chairman of the hoard (Mr. W. .' * • ffi. Sefton Moorhouse) said that tho ;inen would' retain their Australian'' : -Status unless they actually becamo - jidomiciled in New Zealand. The board adjourned tho case for a /fortnight in order that Mr. Mulholland 'might supply detailed information Te•garding the mimber of New '/Wataml 'operators employed on transports and '■elsewhere.