AUTOMATIC SIGNAL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1928, Page 1

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL

son SUM’S IS DISTIiKSS

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY. Nov. 27

In the Commons, fiir -J. H. Thomas (Liberal) asked the President of the Board of 'l'rade. whether, with a view to affording wireless.operators on hoard ships a chance of saving their own lives when ships had to be ahandoneo. he could order investigations to. Revise, means wtorpby- w i yoi ess apptf vajtus epufd lie sot to -tap out, uutohpitieiilly k . ajn •S.O.S. signal, and the latitude and longitude of the vessel. Sir Cun 1 iffe Lister replied that he was advised that there would he probably no difficulty in devising such an instrument, hut he thought, in the ordinary way. it would he of very little use as it would be in operation for a verv short time. It would have no provision for replying to messages irom ships coming to the rescue. Wireless operators had behaved with tremendous gallantry and by remaining at thenposts. had not merely sent out an S.O.S. but had received messages from ships coming to the rescue. His Department would he glad at any time to discuss the value of any automatic apparatus, .hut the difficulties niust.be borne im mind.

Asked whether lie would consider making it compulsory that every passenger boat should'carry at least one motor lifeboat, equipped with wireless and a wireless receiver. Sir Cunliffo Lister, replied that these questions would lie considered at the International Conference on the safety of life at sea, which would take place next spring.