Radios and Aviation.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1921, Page 4

Radios and Aviation.

USE IN AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, June 28. lining observed the value of wireless and aeroplane services in other parts of the. world, the Australian Post .Iflice - which was slow to be converted is now anxious to make all posssible use of these new methods in solving die many difficult problems of communication in Australia and in the islands controlled by the Commonwealth. Difficulties, however, are being experiences. not the least being the delay which invariably occurs in obtaining material ordered from overseas. There Is also tlu 1 fact that wireless apparatus is subject to so many patent laws that it is almost impossible to design apparatus locally which will be suitable to local conditions without infringing the patent rigltts of someone or other. These difficulties have been responsible for holding up experiments in a very important branch of wirless—namely, directional wireless.

It is proposed to establish aeroplane services to connect the inaccessible central, north-west and northern parts with the rest of Australia. The Gcr-aldloii-Derbv route in West Australia lias just been selected for the first experiment. There arc several long Hying stages iti this route, and there is a considerable risk of accident. Tt is hoped to establish directional wireless stations—with which such satisfactory results have been obtained in other countries, so as to keep in touch with the aeroplane in every part of its flight. Then, as other services are established, the directional wireless system will lie applied. The Department is rapidly perfecting the organisation of its already extensive wireless systems in Papua and the mandated territories. There are now large stations at Raba.nl, Port Moresby Samnrai, and Misimn. and the traffic with the mainland is rapidly increasing Rabnul distributes to six or eight small stations about the mandated territories and arrangements are being made for the extension of the power of this plant, to carry traffic between Rabnul Townsville, Sydney and Melbourne. A station is being established at Willis Island, off the coast of Queensland. This will link up with the other wireless stations for the purpose of meteorological observation, so ns to provide reliable weather forecasts, and parf.ieula.rTy to give warning of cyclones, which every year do great damage in Northern Queensland.