PIONEER BROADCASTER

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 2

PIONEER BROADCASTER

RADIO ASSOCIATIONS RECORD FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED In the sense that it has broadcast regularly, with tho exception of 1 a short period, during the last 14 years, the Otago Radio Association’s Station 4ZB is the pioneer broadcaster of New Zealand. Formed at a well-attended meeting of enthusiasts on August 1, 1922, the association commenced active broadcasting shortly afterwards, with the object of bringing -together all persons in Otago interested in the advancement of wireless telegraphy and telephony generally and kindred subjects. particularly the question of broadcasting. This month the association attained its fourteenth anniversary, and to celebrate the event a special function was held in the studio last night, when' the proceedings wore broadcast.

After tho announcer (Mr T). Silverstone) had read a brief history of the association, the president (Mr R. Bruce) gave a few interesting details of the history and work of that organisation, and said that, while there was very little doubt that 4ZB was the pioneer broadcasting station of New Zealand, there was no doubt whatever that Dr Jack was the pioneer of broadcasting in New Zealand _ and possibly in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr Bruce went on to deal with the struggle made by the members in the early days of the station to make both ends meet, and specially mentioned the assistance given by the city electrical engineer (Mr H. H. Henderson), Dr Jack and his assistant, Mr J. Sutherland, Mr G. T. Edgar, and Messrs A. Mackio and T. Finlayson, of the testroom staff. Ho then introduced Dr Jack and called on him to address the meeting. PAST AND FUTURE. Dr R. Jack, who was actually the first experimenter in New_ Zealand to accomplish wireless transmission of the voice and music, and whose early broadcasting was carried out in connection with his work at the Otago University, congratulated the association on attaining its anniversary. When he thought of the early hstory of broadcasting his mind always travelled back to the end of 1920. Before that time several persons in Otago were interested in Morse transmissions, but at the time stated tho speaker went to England, where he was fortunate in procuring some valves and other wireless equipment that had been left over from tho war. These were later brought to Dunedin, but it was not until the spring of the following year that it was possible to set up the actual Cureless apparatus by which music could be broadcast and received. It was indeed very exciting for the experimenters to bo able to hear voices in one room, knowing that they were being transmitted from another in the same building. Tho experiments led to improvements, and it was soon possible to hear those voices at gradually greater distances, until several listeners in all Dunedin districts could pick them up. Broadcasting was then heard even farther afield, and the reports of reception sent in by Air Frank Bell, of Shag. Valley, w*re invaluable. . This was the first station in New Zealand or Australia to broadcast telephony, and it natural!v created widespread intereot in both"countries. The speaker also had the privilege at that time of broadcasting the first concert. Even Britain was not actively broadcasting then. He also recalled the early reception success of tho enthusiasts of those days and the efforts of some to establish twoway communication with other countries.

Turning to the future, Dr Jack.said it was very dangerous to speak about, so he would confine himself to just a few things that might take place. It was known that every week valve developments were taking place. One of the big improvements was in the form of the electron-amplifier, which had the effect of reducing the nojee level and at the same time maintaining its amplification quality. In connection with the coming of television, one must ask the question whether there would be a universal use of short waves. The 8.13. C. had already commenced operations on the seven-metre band. There were difficulties to be overcome on the short waves, but who knew what the experiments would lead to ? It should be possible iu time to obtain clear pictures by means of television. Only four years ago he had seen television working at Home, and although the pictures then were somewhat blurred, they served to show what might be developed in the future. Would it be possible at some time to transmit pictures in colour, and would the pictures be given depth? It was possible that television would not be confined to the broadcasting of films, but would be extended to the transmission of actual tilings, such as plays, for instance. It would bo wonderful to have such possibilities realised and to be able receive actual television broadcasts from other parts of the world. The tendency at present was for the experimenters to turn to shorter and shorter wavelengths for their various purposes, but there were even shorter waves for them to come to next —as short as_ heat waves. They had to be investigated, while shorter waves again wore waiting to bo tried, and finally there were the waves as short as those of the cosmic rays. These had peculiar properties in that they could penetrate varving thicknesses of lead and could come to us from every part of the world. If they could be used there was no saving what the experimenters could do. Could they iu studying them not

learn something of that vast beyond outside this world? EARLY MEMBERS. The first vice-president of the association (Mr J. Loudon) expressed pleasure at being present, and stated that the future held immense possibilities for broadcasting. He also said that the Government was to bo commended on making the appointment of Professor J. Shelley as Director of Broadcasting, as, under his guidance, broadcasting should be largely developed in this country. Mr G. T. Edgar, the second vicepresident of the association, recalled some of the incidents at the early committee meetings, and stressed the point that the association owed a deep debt of gratitude to the work of Dr Jack, for, had it not been for his efforts, the formation of the association would have been delayed. Credit was also due to Mr Loudon, who had pushed the station ahead in the early days of its existence. Mr Edgar then presented the station officials with some of the 1923 log books of the station, these having "been in his possession since then. Mr J. T. Cooper, one of the first committeemen, spoke of the work entailed iu calling the first meeting and the formation of the association, and stated that it had survived all the difficulties that had confronted it and was still carrying c on Mr R. S. Black, who was one of' the first members of the association, also spoke. Ho mentioned that everyone should he proud that Dunedin had had such conspicuous broadcasting successes in the early days.

At this stage an interesting experiment was carried out. This consisted of the broadcasting of the first record played by the station, the original microphone, and a non-electric gramophone—the type then in use —bein<| employed. Mr D. G. Mitchell, one of the constructors of the original broadcasting plant, and the present secretary of the association, carried out this unique broadcast. Many former announcers, together with the station’s present microphone staff, wore called upon to announce in turn, and these included Mr T. K. S.

Sidey, Mr R. T. Stedman, Mr J, J. Hayes, Mr H. Tattersfield, Mr A. Brown, Mr G. Kerr, Mr R. Wilson, Miss M. Thurston, and l Miss M. Connolly. The Otago radio inspector (Mr F. J. O’Grady) paid) a tribute to the work of the members of the association. They had striven for their ideals, and they had been willing at all times to assist in making the task of the inspector easy. He wished the station the best of luck in the future.

Before continuing with a musical programme an outline of the children’s sessions conducted from' the station was given by Mi Stedman, who said that the first regular children’s hour given in New Zealand was started at 4ZB in 1924,