NEW RADIO STATION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1929, Page 6

NEW RADIO STATION

AT NEW PLYMOUTH

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, April 28.

Broadcasting Station 2Y13, New Plymouth, was officially opened last night. Its success may bo judged from the fact tlnu the General .Manager of the Broadcasting Company reported from Sumner, Christchurch, that he had perfect reception there during the ceremony. Mr John Ball, on behalf of the Broadcastng Company, made an announcement, which Mr E. Payne (President of the North Taranaki Radio Society) characterised as marking an important milestone in the history of radio in New Zealand.

Mr Ball said that Station 2YB was not intended as a full Broadcast service, but rather to fill a gap until such time as something better was available. A greatly desired development was, lie believed, in the lap of the very near future. The General Manager of the Coy lmd visioned a national broadcast system in which there would be in tlie chief provincial centres throughout the Dominion a chain of efficient relay stations linked with tlie four main stations. It was to be a veritable model of completeness and efficiency. The General Manager had already submitted for the consideration of the Government an outline of the whole scheme. Air Ball asked the listeners to visualise a scheme of efficient stations at Napier, Hastings, Nelson, Greymouth, Tiinaru, Invercargill, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston and Gisborne. All of these stations would be connected by land linos, so that all would he in touch, regardless of the atmospheric conditions. r llie Company's policy was not limited to tlie technical side, but it intended to work for an improvement of the programmes. and beyond these there was a great field of inestimable value to He community. Tt had been proved that the broadcasting of scientific instruction had enormously increased primary production in other countries. One of tiie most eminent authorities in the Dominion, Dr Chilton, was at present engaged in investigating the possibilities of such a service.