WIRELESS ON SHIPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 1

WIRELESS ON SHIPS

WANTED ON EVERY VESSEL TRADING IN N.Z. DEPARTMENT NOT PROGRESSIVE THE SETT’S Parliamcntari / Reporter WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Strong representations that every vessel entering and leaving New Zealand ports should be equipped with wireless were made in the House this evening by Messrs. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central), and Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South) during the discussion on the Marine Department estimates. They were assured by the Minister, the Hon, J. B. Donald, that the subject would have his very serious consideration. Mr. Fraser, in raising the question, instanced the fact that one lifeboat on the Tahiti was equipped with wireless, and therefore there was no reason why every vessel entering and leaving New Zealand ports should not be equipped with wireless. He stressed the need for improving wireless facilities on vessels in view of the recent developments in wireless. Mr. Howard supported him warmly. Replying, the Minister said that he understood that as far as New Zealand was concerned it was aheati of other countries in regard to ships being equipped with wireless. He did agree, however, that all or most ships leaving New Zealand ports should be equipped with wireless, and said that the question would have his most serious consideration. Mr. Fraser expressed dissatisfaction with this reply, and said he had hoped the Minister would be progressive. However, he had received the same answer as in 1921 when the Marine Department had appeared to go to sleep. It seemed that the department was not aware of the recent developments in wireless. The regulations had not been improved upon since 3 925, when following upon the Ripple disaster they had been framed by the late Mr. Massey. The House had become tired of listening to the same answer about New Zealand being ahead of every other country. It might have been when the regulations were first formulated. He asked that every ship entering or leaving New Zealand should be properly equipped with wireless. The fact that wireless was installed in one of the lifeboats of the Tahiti would have meant life or death to the pas- ; sengers if the ship had had to be i abandoned.