WITH THE NZBS OVERSEAS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 402, 7 March 1947, Page 12

WITH THE NZBS OVERSEAS

News from WLKW Yamaguchi N June of last year Ulric Williams and Linden Martin left New Zealand for Japan to represent the NZBS with the J Force. Now they are acting as officer-in-charge and chief engineer respectively of the new broadcasting station WLKW Yamaguchi, which is giving daily programmes of entertainment and news for New Zealanders in the British

occupation zone. According to a report received from Mr. Williams the other day by the NZBS the station went on the air on January 15, introduced to listeners by the Commander-in-Chiei €° BCOF.,- "Lt General H. C. Robertson. The official opening was _performed later by Brigadier L. Potter,

commander of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. (Japan), and during it. recorded speeches by the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., and Lt.-General Robertson were broadcast. The new station has a daily schedule of 9% hours, broadcasting times being from 7.0 to 9.0 a.m., noon to 2.0 p.m,, and 5.0 to 10.30 p.m. Radio listeners in New Zealand will be interested to hear that the breakfast session for the men in Japan includes, as at home, light music and musical comedy selections, while the rattle of knives and forks at lunch is accompanied by music in the accepted luncheon style, A hdéspital session between 1.30 and 2.0 p.m. is addressed to patients in the 6 New Zealand General Hospital and 4 New Zealand Rest Home. This includes requests, greetings and special features. News from Home After dinner music, from 5.0 to 6.0 p.m., there is "Our Programme for To-. night" and 2nd N.Z.E.F. news. Then, till 6.45 p.m., variety takes the air, followed by the New Zealand news, which is divided into three sections---main stories of the day, "news jottings from Auckland to the Bluff," and the world of sport. Swing-fans and seekers after the latest releases have their) hour between 7.0 and 8.0 p.m. and then the more serious musically-minded settle down to an hour of the classics. Between 9.0 and 9.30 there is varied entertainment, but on most evenings at 9.30 a BBC feature is introduced. And the broadcasting day ends with half-an-hour of music "in the quiet mood." There are three plays a week and each Sunday, at 9.0 p.m., a padre conducts a short devotional service. "We. hope to begin live shows next week," writes Mr. Williams in his report, which ‘is cated January 29. The American station WLKH, on the neighbouring island . of is anxious to co-operate with WLKw, haying lent. many American -unit programmes on the exchange principle, and also with an exchange of guest announcers.