Aug. 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1537

Notice to Mariners No. 33 of 1936.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 1st August, 1936.

BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS MESSAGES TO MERCHANT SHIPS.

Former Notice : No. 28 of 1935 is hereby cancelled.

This organization provides for the transmission of important messages to British merchantmen in any part of the world on occasions when such messages may be of vital importance to their safety and welfare.

From the details given below it will be seen that arrangements have been made for such messages to be transmitted at certain scheduled times by Rugby and other selected British W/T stations in various parts of the world.

Tests of the organization, lasting for one week, are held at irregular intervals. British merchant ships are earnestly requested to listen for the messages broadcast during these tests and forward particulars of those received. These reports, together with copies of messages received, should be rendered by operators to the Masters of their ships, and transmitted by the latter to the shipowners, who will forward them to the Board of Trade, London. Reports from ships registered in Canada should be forwarded to the Canadian Department of Marine. Reports from ships in Area 11, proceeding to New Zealand ports at the time of the broadcast, should be forwarded to the Navy Office and Marine Department, Wellington. Reports from ships registered in Australia should be forwarded to the Secretary, Naval Board, Navy Office, Melbourne. It is particularly desired that ships listening for, but failing to receive, the test messages, either wholly or in part, should render returns, giving their position, areas, &c., and, if possible, any reasons for non-reception. Ships unable to listen for test messages should render blank returns, giving their positions, areas, &c., together with reasons for their inability to listen.

Ships which miss messages, in part or whole, transmitted by shore stations and subsequently obtain repetitions from other ships should indicate the fact in the remarks column of the return, stating the transmitting ship and time of receipt. Ships which transmit repetitions should also indicate the fact in their returns.

The attainment of an organization of maximum efficiency is largely dependent upon the information obtained from these reports, and the co-operation of individual ships of the British Mercantile Marine will, therefore, be of the utmost assistance.

The arrangements made for broadcasting messages by W/T on these occasions are as follows:—

2. The world has been divided into certain areas (vide chart appended) and collective call signs have been introduced for (i) all British merchant ships, and (ii) British merchant ships in a particular area. These call signs are as shown in the following table:—

Messages for Area on Call
Chart. Sign.
All British merchant ships .. .. .. .. GBMS

British merchant ships in—

Home Area .. .. .. 1 GBMS 1
Mediterranean Area .. .. .. 2 (A and B) GBMS 2
East Indies Area .. .. .. 3 GBMS 3
China Area .. .. .. 4 (A and B) GBMS 4
Australia Area .. .. .. 5 (A and B) GBMS 5
Africa Area .. .. .. 6 GBMS 6
America and West Indies, East Coast,
Northern Area .. .. .. 7 GBMS 7
America and West Indies, West Coast,
Northern Area .. .. .. 8 GBMS 8
America and West Indies, East Coast,
Southern Area .. .. .. 9 GBMS 9
America and West Indies, West Coast,
Southern Area .. .. .. 10 GBMS 10
New Zealand Area .. .. .. 11 GBMS 11