NEW STATION AT 4YA.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 12, 4 October 1929, Page 6

NEW STATION AT 4YA.

ON October 16 the new plant of 4YA will go on the air for the first time. This plant will be of a strength comparable with Christchurch and Auckland, and will complete the establishment of fullypowered stations as originally planned. It is true that Dunedin has had to wait longer for her station than the other centres, but that was inevitable in the circumstances as they arose, more particularly the enlargement of plans in relation to 2YA. "THE wait has not been without advantage to Dunedin, in that the new station will take rank as the most efficient of all, from the point of view of layout and modernity of studio arrangements. It is situated in the upper floors of a modern newspaper building in Dunedin, on which its towers will be an outstanding landmark. To commemorate the opening, a special programme of Scottish character will be given. When it is mentioned that the initial number will consist of an item by sixteen pipers, the certainty will be felt that Scottish people throughout the Dominion will listen with eagerness to the opening of 4YA. The southern centre is certainly the stronghold of Scottish sentiment in this Dominion, and therefore the song and verse of that distinguished race will predominate in that evening’s programme. WITH the completion of 4YA, it is fitting to glance at the past and at the future. In spite of disabilities, steady progress has been made in equipment and service in recent years. That progress has been accompanied by a uniform increase in the number of listeners. The southern part of the Dominion has been the weakest in numerical support of radio. It is to be hoped that position will now change, and the leeway rapidly be made up. _ As readers know, we do not regard the broadcasting service of New Zealand as complete, even with the establishment of four main stations. Further progress has yet to be made. The range of the central stations is inadequate to give thorougly efficient service in all provincial centres of population. That service can be adequately rendered only by the establishment of relay stations connected by land lines with the major stations. That will be the next logical step in the development of a fully satisfactory broadcasting service. Plans in this connection have been mooted, and await

determination in line with general policy. That decision lies only in the future, and is outside the hands of the present operating company. THE higher-powered 4YA will be welcomed by all valve set owners throughout the Dominion. The southern centre possesses artists of high quality, and the added power will enable them to reach a wider audience. This constitutes a further asset to the Dominion service. ) ‘