GREYMOUTH RADIO STATION CHANGES NAME TO-DAY

Grey River Argus, 31 August 1948, Page 4

GREYMOUTH RADIO STATION CHANGES NAME TO-DAY

Founded in February, 1931, by Mr M. E. Spiers, now of Blenheim, Greymouth's radio station, 3ZR, will change both its name and its frequency as from mid-night tonight. From to-morrow morning, the station will be known as 3YZ Greymouth, and the position on the dial of all receiving sets will be altered from 960 kilocycles to 920 kilocycles. This should not involve listeners in any difficulties, as a very brief move of the tuning knob should enable them to pick up the station on the new wave length. The change of name removes from the West Coast perhaps the most familiar radio call sign known to the vast majority of listeners. It was on February 3, 1931—the date of the Napier earthquake—that 3ZR. first came on the air. This was somewhat ahead of its proposed opening, but Mr Spiers, seizing the opportunity of providing information to the then rather scattered radio audience of information about the earthquake and the casualties, had the station on the air for many hours. This first service was greatly appreciated by the public, which, at that time, found it almost impossible to receive stations on the other coast on their radio sets. THREE MOVES 3ZR was first located in Cowper Street, and moved some time later to Cobden. There, a feature of the station was the Sunday night broadcasts by a band of Cobden residents, appreciated all the more, for at the time few records were available, and these had of necessity to be played over very frequently. About 16 years ago, the station was moved to its present location in Central Chambers, Mackay Street, Greymouth, where increased output and greater variety in programme was possible. In a short time, the transmitter of the new 3YZ 'will be moved to Taramakau between the bridge and Kumara Junction, and the strength of the station will be increased to equal that of the present 3YA in Christchurch. A special broadcast marking th-: end of the days of 3ZR is to be mad; to mark the occasion, and many old members of the staff, who have been associated with broadcasting during the long period 3ZR has been in operation, will be mentioned. It is understood that as soon as the new transmitter is ready for opening, there will be held a gathering of the old members, including Mr Spiers, who will come from Blenheim for the occasion. “SAMBO” SESSION Probably no session captured the imagination of the listening public, young or old, more than that conducted regularly for many years each Saturdav night, by Uncle Mick (Mr Spiers) Land “Sambp” a multi-toned voice, which, it is more general!?/ known now, was that of Mr Spiers himself. These sessions ceased when Mr Spiers sold the station to the (government in 1938. The value to ..the listening public of the local station- was probably best demonstrated by the fact that only one station in New Zealand, lZh> Auckland, received more from the State for its purchase. A sum of £2300 was paid for 3ZR, and since then, the service given, under the National Broadcasting Service has resulted in increased hours, and the employment of a much larger staff than the means available to Mr Spiers could have supp'brted. NEW CALL SIGNS To-morrow also marks the • introduction of new call signs and frequencies for most New Zealand, and manv Australian stations, in accordance'with an agreement between the two Governments made some time ago. New Zealand’s four main stations will, however, retain their present call signs, and their frequencies and wave lengths will be ai follows: — Wave Frequency Length Station (Kilocycles) (Meters) IYA Auckland 750 400 2YA Wellington 570 526 3YA Christchurch 690 434 4YA Dunedin 780 384