RADIO CENTRE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 9, 26 January 1937, Page 8

RADIO CENTRE

-Press Asuociltion.)

Conservatorium and National Symphony Orchestra GOVERNMENT'S PLAN

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, an. 25. Immodiately before the special radio programme to which all four main centres of New Zealand contributed was broadcast from the principal stations of the National Broadcasting Bervice to-night, the new 60-kilowatt transmitter at Titahi Bay, which now uees the call 2YA, was formally opened at the studio in Wellington. In addition to the Prime Minister, who declared tlie station open, the speakers included Mr H. D. Vickery, tnairman oi the former Broadcasting Board, and Professor Bhelley, Direetor of Broadcasting, who announced iinportant decisions by the Government. affeotmg the iuture development of bi'oadcasting in New Zealand. rur fcjavage -said that tney in New Zealand were anxious to listei^ to the voices and niessages of peoples of oth*»r nations. They vv ere also anxioxjs that these nations skould hear iNTew Zealand people 's voices and niessages, and they proposed to plan accordingly. Professor Bhelley said ue nad been aeked by the Prime Mimster to describe some of the chief developments decided upon by tho Minister . of Broadcasting and approved by the Government. Tho lir-st decision dealt with the encouragement and training of New Zealand 's own people in the art£ of musie and speech. i Tho Government has decided to replaee the present inadecpiate temporary ' Jieadquarters and studios in Wellington by a great broadcaeting centre enibodying in it a national conservatorium for musie, and the spoken arts. It was anticipated that this institution would become the culturai centre of the Dominion for these arts, worlcing in intimato relation with artists in other centres and co-ordinating and organising whatever taient the Dominion niight possess. Gueat artists and conductors and producers from overseas would be invited not only to broadcast but also to stay for a considerable time and tcacli local performers in the conservatorium. By this means they would build up a standard of work which would be accept.able to listeners and stand comparison with the world 's best. They were assured by fawous visitors from overseas that the taient was here but it needed the stimulation of liigher teaching and organisation. Only broadcasting had the power to do this for New keaiand, and this the Government had recognised. Hence the decision to cstablish this great broadcasting cent.ru and conservatorium, which would bo unique in the world 's institutions. A national symphony orchestra would be associated with the conservatorium. There would also be an organisation of listeners. The Minister had decided that facilities should be provided whereby listeners could meet in groups for various purposes. Kadio could serve such a group. Listeuiug was necessary lf the broadcasting service was to reflect the epirit of the community. In .order to meet the need for contact betwoen the service and listeners, the Minister had decided that in six nionths' time a weekly broadcasting magazine would be publisked bv the broadcasting service at a reasonable price.