83. Staff were made available to the Director of Marine for in- specting and surveying ship radio stations to ensure compliance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and to advise on the installation of equipment on new vessels. A total of 135 ship radio stations were surveyed for the issue of Safety Certificates and 74 vessels were inspected.
Radio Monitoring and Interference Control
84. There was a reduction of interference from plastic welders this year, partly because of a reduction in the number of machines in use and partly from replacement by type-approved cavity resonator equip- ment. Television interference cases have increased and are expected to continue to increase as more on-air channels are activated, and es- pecially during the change-over period for the two operative Television companies.
85. 42 evaluation tests on VHF transceiver equipment were carried out in addition to 6 evaluation tests on other equipment.
86. The operating parameters of civil aviation beacons and ground/ air systems were checked at regular intervals. The frequencies of 1,554 mobile radio system transmitters were measured to ensure that they were operating within prescribed tolerances. The transmitters of 115 ships undergoing radio survey were also checked.
87. Supervisory monitoring of local radio communications was continued and proposed new channels were examined prior to alloca- tion.
Government Telephone Services
88. The Department plans and makes arrangements for the pro- vision of telephone services for all Government Departments. The number of Government telephone facilities in operation at 31st March, 1974, is listed below and represents an increase of 9.8% on the previous year's total.
Direct Exchange Lines and Junctions
Official Residential Telephones ...
Extensions
Private wires, Tie Lines and Long Line Extensions
Switchboard Extensions
Intercom Units
Total
希
5,682
1,341
2,520
467
***
7,798
**
1,476
19,284
15