Talking to the World

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 24, 23 December 1932, Page 6

Talking to the World

Development of Radio Telephone "HE ultimate aim is to build circuits so that anyone in New Zealand can talk to anyone else in the world by radio telephone," said Mr.-J. C. Fairbairn, Christchurch district telegraph engineer, in. talking of the extension of the service to-Lisbon from December 5, . > The radio-telephone service has been in use:for over.a year, but there has not- been a great deal of work done from Christchurch. The work that had been done was quite satisfactory. Unless everything was quite right the calls were not put through. Within a very short time it is hoped to be able to establish contact with any part of the world. To that end the department has been going along steadily building up the New Zealand circuit by replacing iron wire with copper wire. At the present time only minor wires remain to be replaced in Canterbyjy. The work has been going on for * 10 years in the Dominion. . The biggest wire replacement job done in Canterbury was that. between Christchurch and Timaru, a work which was finished last year. The distance is 100 miles, and from eight to 10 wires had to be replaced, making a total of practically 1000 miles. He pointed out that the radio. telephone service was always up against atmospherics. Mr. J. G. Young, acting chief postmaster, Christchurch, points out. that the minimum charge for a call to Lisbon will be £8/5/- for three minutes and £2/15/- for each additional minute. The report charge is £1/10/-.