EDITORIAL NOTES.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 19, 22 November 1929, Page 6

EDITORIAL NOTES.

WIT the advent of summer comes the call of the portable. Radio. to-day is so much an essential of our life, supplying information vital to daily needs, that even summertime, with its ‘call to the outdoors, does not dissipate its value. Certainly the hours of listening may be reduced, but each. listener derives some special benefit from radio which he is reluctant fo forgo, even in the summer months. Campers and holiday-seekers, wherever they may roam, still feel the need for radio. Indeed the more genuinely they are on holiday, and the more isolated they are from the ordinary means of communication, the more valuable do they find radio as a means of keeping in touch with events of the day with a minimum of cost and trouble. So marked is this view that few indeéd are the camping parties, fishing ‘parties, and even touring parties, that now go far afield without their portable set. even at such distant points as Lake Taupo fishing parties nightly listen to selected YA stations through their radio sets. In this and succeeding issues special attention is being paid to meet the needs of those desirous of enjoying portable wireless." Our technical staff are providing constructional details for two sets, both of which can be strongly recommended for their respective uses. "THE Radio Exhibition held in Christchurch in the past week proved as successful in its degree as were those of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. With the steady flow of country visitors for Carnival Week, the opportunity was taken by many to visit the Radio Exhibition and inspect the latest apparatus for fulfilling the special needs of the countryside for enjeying the radio service. The exhibition throughout was well attended, and business is reported to have been good. The displays made by the exhibiting firms were distinctly creditable, and covered the full range of radio apparatus. It is unfortunate that a larger hall was not available for the exhibition, but this had the effect of giving that crowded atmosphere so highly desirable in connection with such exhibitions. The exhibition was memorable by reason of the various eloquent addresses given by the representative speakers. They are fitly the subject of congratulation. 'THE cabled message recording the damage inflicted upon the English and Scottish fishing fleets by a sudden raging gale in the North Sea serves to remind us that, great as has been the service rendered

by radio, it has not succeeded yet in altogether enabling mankind te avoid sudden conflicts with Nature and damage therefrom. It jis true that in this particular case the fault, if any, lies with the fishing fleet themselves for inadequate use of the facilities provided by radio. Of the hundreds of fishing vessels comprising these fleets, relatively few, it is reported, carried wireless sets. Only some were so equipped, but these were able to pick up the broadcast warning of the approaching storm, and thus haul in their nets and save that loss inflicted upon the balance of the fleet, running into 31,000 nets, costing £150,000 to replace. It is somewhat surprising to learn that so'relatively few vessels were equipped with radio. The law provides now that all ocean-going, passenger-carrying vessels shall ¢arry radio apparatus with competent operators. It would seem that some. incentive in addition to self-interest is necessary to force this protective measure upon fishing fleets. The lesson just read by the storm, however, is likely to be so clear and far-reaching in its effect that a much. greater percentage will speedily be equipped. The disaster affords a lesson as to the value of the meteorological service. It indicates that weather conditions may change so suddenly that constant watchfulness is nent: both on the part of the observers and those standing to benefit by th warnings. Rural and shipping interests in New Zealand are alive to the value of weather warnings and the radio distribution of them, and our readers are aware, every opportunity is taken by the. broadcast service to render good service in this field. ad ir