Following A Lead

NZ Truth, Issue 1195, 25 October 1928, Page 3

Following A Lead

tion is only too willing to usurp the functions of 3ZC on every possible occasion. ' ' ■ ' Station 3YA showed great interest m the return to New Zealand of the. All Blacks by opening up on its silent day, yet it did not display the same interest when' our footballers' were m Africa— until it had been beaten to its job on three consecutive Sunday mornings by 3ZC, which came on the air to give the results and any information received about the game.

"Truth" would like to know whether Harris sanctioned a visit by one of his principal officers from 3YA to 3ZC. when the new .plant at the latter station was being assembled.

The said officer, m company with another member of the mechanical staff, visited 3ZC's studio and acted the novice, asking all manner of silly and ignorant questions until they were recognized by a member of SZC's staff, when they suddenly decamped.

The object of their visit was obviously to look around, yet had they made known their identity they would have been as welcome as the flowers m May.

The fact remains that the R.B.C, by reason of its own failure to deliver the goods, must make way for competition. There must be no obstacles presented by the Government.

No satisfactory reason can be offered why "two -stations m one city should not be on the air together.

There has not yet been any demand for the Sydney or Melbourne stations, which operate simultaneously, to cjose down. The unsatisfactory position, so far as New Zealand is concerned, has been brought about by traders stocking all manner of cheap crystal-sets. :> They are not selective— that is, they cannot cut out any one station m favor of another. The same position prevailed m I Australia before the coming of new stations,, when cheap sets had to be scrapped and selective sets installed m their place. There is no reason why the same course should not be followed here, giving all those stations anxious to serve the listener access to the air at all,, times. /People with 'cheap and inefficient crystal- sets will no doubt register their disapproval at such action, but the progress of broadcasting cannot be held m check on their account. The Government holds the key to the situation through being able to impose a limit, but, the air. is not used. half enough at the present tinie. And the principal ".users of it m New Zealand up till v now ihave fallen down on their job.