Konquerer isn't officially supported by Prototype.js which Rails uses
for it's Ajax stuff.
The latest version of Prototype is compatible with the following
browsers:
Browser Version(s)
Mozilla Firefox ≥ 1.5
Microsoft Internet Explorer ≥ 6.0
Apple Safari ≥ 2.0
Opera ≥ 9.25
After a couple of days of tearing my hair out I have solved the problem
another way. I have ditched the use of the 'observe_field' helpers and
written the routine from scratch in java script.
Now it works in all of these browsers.
If anyone else stumbles accross this thread, I was greatly helped by
this howto: