Waiting for the Tasman Flight

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 9, 14 September 1928, Page 6

Waiting for the Tasman Flight

Stand-by Service Given by 3YA Christchurch Crystal Users Hear Australian Stations

‘THE proposed trans-Tasman flight again demonstrated what a great service broadeasting renders to the public. From the first intimation that a flight by the Southern Cross to New Zealand was in view, the broadcasting stations were very busy places, and after the first announcement of the postponement, the staff at 3YA had a hectic time in answering the shoals of inquiries that were received. All preparations had been made at Sockburn for handling and catering for the tremendous crowd expected to witness the landing on the Sunday, but all these arrangements were completely upset when the postponement was announced. , Townspeople and visitors were left very much "in the air." The aeroplane was expected every day, but as its arrival depended on the weather conditions there could be no definite early intimation. It was then that the Broadcasting Company was looked to. Not only did 83YA supply a special news session for the information of the people of Christchurch, but it answered a host of questions by telephone and from perscnal callers. There were many visitors to the city from all parts and they did not know whether to stay on in the city till next day or go home. Some had long train journeys and some travelled by motor-car. Many people wished to know if they should wire to friends in distant parts to come. Glorious uncertainty pervaded everything: and all eyes looked to "YA to tell them what was what. It was all further testimony to the part broadcasting is playing in the life of the people. Rebroadcasting Sydney. As an instance of 3YA’s "up to the second" service, one evening the actual announcement by 2FC officially stating that the flight would not take place that night, was rebroadcast by 3YA. The amount of re-broadcasting which 3YA did shattered all precedents. In fact, the trans-Tasman flight seemed to completely disorganise the even tenor of the way hitrerto followed

by 3YA. Of course, listeners did not mind in the least. The re-broadcasts met with widespread appreciation from erysta set users, who considered they had much to thank Kingsford Smith for. "TUESDAY evening was a case in point. Although the usual silent day, 3Y¥A had, in accordance with the announcements of the previous day, to go on the air to advise listeners throughout the country whether or not the Southern Cross was setting out for New Zealand. For several days now the staff of 83YA has been ready for a continuous 24 hours’ service, and was quite prepared even at the last minute to commence a long run should Kingsford Smith have decided on an eleventh hour departure. Extended Service to Crystal Users. "HE station was on the air at 9 o’clock in the morning, and went on again in the evening at 6 o’clock for some 15 minutes, the announcements regarding the flight being interspersed with gramophone items. Similarly at 7 o’clock and again at 8 o’clock. Though quite ready to carry on longer than the usual quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, 3YA had not intended to do so, but about that time many requests were received from listeners to continue and .t was therefore decided to go on for a while longer. This decision was also influenced by the fact that when the station’s operators were listening in to’ the Australian stations in order to pick up the latest information concerning Kingsford Smith, it had been found that the conditions were very good for the reception of the overseas stations. With each rebroadeast came repeated requests for more, and the result was that the station operator went round the dials of his receiv'ng set and crystal. set users were able to make comparisons between the programmes of New Zealand and Australian stations. It was a very interesting experience for crystal set users. ee eevetpuntauet POPTTTTTTITITITITITITITITITITITITITITTT ITIL TL TTL Latent