2ZO CLOSING DOWN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 14

2ZO CLOSING DOWN

Our Own Correspondent.)

Palmerston North Station

OWNER 'HAD NO ALTERNATIVE'

rPron

PALMERSTON N., Last Night. Having been purchased' by the Government, ^ station 2ZO, Palmerston North, will give its last broadcast on September 30. It is understood that immediately after closing down finally the equipment will be dismantled by Government officers and removed. The station has been operating under pri- J vate ownership since '1931, and was ' utilised during the Napier earthquake I as a valuable means of communication. I The ' pt'oprietor, Mr. J. V.' Kyle, re- | fused to ^ reveal at piresent the price , he is being paid, but indicated that . he considered it was below what rho station was worth. " He added that he might make an ahnouricement when the station was finally closed down. "It is most unfair," said'Mr. Kyle. "I put up strenuous opposition, but I have no alternative but to close down. I have had no desire to sell the station, and I appealed to the Prime Minister to allow me to carry on as in the past, with a guarantee that I would receive copyright protection. I also asked for an increase in hours and power. He refused to increase hours or power, and stated that a speeific arrangement would have to be made for every record broadcast. He refused to discuss the matter of a subsidy until I had made a decision on the Government 's offer. I was loft with no alternative. It is like having a motor-car and no petrol: I have a station but I cannot operate it. " Mr. Kyle said the station was his personal property, but the local club with 2000 meinbers properly organised, had been formed to help provide funds to operate it. He trarphasised that no person connected with the station received any payment for his service?