WIRELESS OPERATORS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1917, Page 4

WIRELESS OPERATORS.

Question of Military Service.

Wellington, | May 11

The shortage of wirthss operators was mentioned at tho ' sitting of the Military Service Baird, which bad be* fore it an appeal ms»de Lv amalgamated Wireless Ltd., on behalf of Robert Sharlaud Taylor, employed as a radio telegraphist on a New Zealand steamer. Exemption has been granted in other cases of a similar character, bnt the Board now asked for further information regarding the supply of operators and tha prospect of releasirg men who were members of the First Division.

The local inspector for Amalgamated Wireless Ltd. (Mr Mulholland) said that there was an actual shortage of wireless operators at the present time. It was essential that uhips, especially transports, should be supplied with qualified m9n. His compuny had 110 operators, all unmarried men, but only fifteen or twenty of them were New Zealanders, and so members of the First Division. The others were domiciled iD Australia. At least five of the New Zealanders were working on New Zealand transports. Efforts had been made tc secure additional men.without much success. Many learners did Dot complete their courses. Some had been called up end taken into camp. All the men who had qualified recently in New Zealand schools had beeo engaged by him for

work on New Zealand transports, on behalf of the Transport Board. The Shortage of operators was similarly acute in Australia.

Iu answer to a question Mr Malholland said that in the United Kingdom wireless operators were not al-

lowed to enter the Army. Mr Mack, a member of the board, said it appeared that some additional men were qualifying in New Zealand, while at the same time the number of ships to bs served was decreasing. He wonld like additional information. Mr Mulholland said that the company bad considered the desirability of bringing Australian operators to New Zealand to work on coastal ship?. He asked if these men would become liable for service under the New Zealand military law. ’ The chairman of the board, (Mr Moorhonee) said that tha man would detain their Australian status unless they actually became domiciled here. The board adjourned the case for a fortnight, ia order that Mr Muibolland might supply detailed information regarding the number of New Zealand operators employed oa transports and elsewhere.