Shipping Aids On N.Z. Coasts

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1948, Page 8

Shipping Aids On N.Z. Coasts

WELLINGTON, October 7.

Within a short time almost all intercolonial and coastal shipping is to be provided with either radio direc-tion-finding apparatus and radiotelephones, or with radar, said the Minister of Marine, the Hon. F. Hackett, to-day. The Minister said that several beacons had been established before the war, and several other installations were scheduled for early completion. These, of course, were useless unless combined with the installation of counterparts on the vessels.

The major shipping company in New Zealand, he added, had already fitted radio direction-finders on 17 vessels, and orders had been issued for a further 27 vessels. Radio-tele-phone apparatus was already fitted on 14 vessels, and arrangements had been made for a further 22 vessels. Radar was actually installed on 10 vessels, with a further five sets on order. Other coastal shipping companies, the Minister said, were following suit to the same extent. A pleasing feature was that efficient and approved types of instruments were being manufactured in the Dominion. The harbour boards were playing their part in installing radio-telephones to fit in with the Dominion-wide scheme for improved nagi-vational aids to shipping generally.