WIRELESS TELEPHONE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1922, Page 6

WIRELESS TELEPHONE.

COMMUNICATION WITH TAHORA. A NOVEL PROPOSAL. STRATFORD GIVES A LEAD. (From Our Own Stratford, Feb. 20. Wireless telegraphy has changed in a few years from a little-known invention to one of the world’s greatest assets in the march of progress, and in its wake has come the wireless telephone, which, if it could be adopted throughout New Zealand with success, would do away with miles of wires and telegraph poles, and, incidentally, save the country many thousands of pounds. That the wireless telephone is a practical invention, was the opinion expressed at a special meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, which was held today to consider a proposal to link up telephonic communication between Stratford and the Ohura by means of the wireless telephone. There were present at the meeting Messrs. J. B. Richards (chairman), W. McDonald, J. W. McMillan, W. Mclnnes, C. Martin, D. J. Malone and W. P. Kirkwood. Messrs. C. Ward and T. E. Bridger, two prominent members *of the Taranaki Wireless Institute, were present by invitation to advise the chamber. Mr. B. Richards said that the meeting had been called to discuss the matter of telegraphic communication with Ohura. For about twelve years the chamber had been trying to get communication by telephone with the Ohura. In spjte of the fact that the distance between the two points of communication was not more than twelve miles they had been unable to prevail upon the department to link the gap.

Mr. C. Ward said that as far as radiotelegraphy was concerned there was no doubt that it would be most practicable. If the Government would grant permission to the chamber or the Taranaki Wireless Institute to erect two stations they would find no difficulty whatever in maintaining stations for communicating, which would supply their needs. The cost of a plant, irrespective of buildings, would be approximately £lOO per station.

Mr. Kirkwood said that in the Ohura nearly every far-ner had his own telephone. The lines were already in that district.

In reply to Mr. Mclnnes, Mr. Ward said that the maintenance would be very small irrespective of the cost of attendance. They would not need the services of a wireless expert; a man who could use an ordinary telephone could use the wireless telephone.

Mr. Richards asked what the cost would be to establish an intermediate station between Ohura and Stratford, and Mr. Ward said that this would cost practically the same as one of the o(her stations. Mr. Bridger remarked that the cost of a plant which Mr. Ward had quoted was greater than the cost for which a plant could be secured in Australia.

Mr. Kirkwood moved that the following motion should be sent to the Government: “That this chamber has been informed that it is practical, at a cost of £lOO per station, to establish a wireless telephone station at Stratford and the Ohura, connecting up the ordinary telephone system, and that the Government be asked to either establish such telephonic communication or consent to the issue of a license authorising same.” Mr. Bridger pointed out the difficulty in securing''-a license to transmit messages. A license to receive was easy to obtain, but it was very difficult to get a license to transmit messages. Even settlers in the Chatham Islands had been refused licenses. Mr. Kirkwood’s resolution was carried.