Christchurch Radio Olympia

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 19, 22 November 1929, Page 3

Christchurch Radio Olympia

Another Outstandirg Success

HE radio traders of. Christj¢church held their first. radio jexhibition last week, and the venture proved a great success. The locale was the }Choral. Hall, the interior of which was transformed for == the occasion. The stalls for the exhibits were ranged on either side beneath: the gallery, and made very attractive displays. The whole body of the hall was carpeted and furnished with easy chairs and settees, like a large lounge. Pink chenille curtains, palms and standard lamps with pretty Shades added to the pleasing effect. Nine of the leading radio dealers of ristchurch exhibited the-latest in receiving sets and apparatus. The Radio Society of Christchurch alsy had a display of home-made sets. Included in these were two: prize-winning sets by Mr. F. O’Connor. Both of these were all-wavers, one of them being a portable. The other had ‘brought in ‘200 stations. A three-valve set, made by Mr. J. Stewart and awarded a first prize, was also shown. There was an interesting display by the Radio Broadcasting Company of valves in ‘use at the broadcasting stations. ‘These ranged from a very small specimen, known as the "peanut," to the largest watercooled valves used at 2YA. Some of these had had portions of the metal outer casting cut away so that the iner economy was placed on view. The radio dealers who had displays were J,-I. Smail, Speddings Ltd. (L. L, Jones, Canterbury agent), L. B. Scott, Ltd., Direct Supply Company, Ltd., H. L. Newton, Chas. Bennett, Ltd., Watkinson’s, Ltd., A. R. Harris and Co., Ltd., and A. B. Strange.. The exhibition was conducted. in much the same way as were those at the. other centres. The Broadcasting Company was responsible for the entertainment programmes for both children and adults. These were staged in the model studio which had been arranged on the stage. 3YA studio had been dismantled for the purpose, and the model studio in pink and grey was a credit to Mrs. Bingham, who was responsible for the lay-out. ; The Christchurch Radio BExhibition was not as large as those in the other cities (no adequate hall being availgilts ‘in Christchurch), but the original"Shown in arranging and furnishing vie hall was a matter for the most favourable comment from all visitors as soon as they entered the building. The exhibition was different from the usual "exhibition." .

A very interesting section of the exhibition. was the office: of the Christehurch Amaeur ‘Transmitters, who transmitted messages free to all parts of New Zealand, . HE opening of the exhibition took place on Tuesday evening, Noyember 12. ‘The Hon. T. M. Wilford officiated,.in the absence from Wellinggton of. the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmas-ter-General. Mr. . Wilford’s. remarks were relayed. from Wellington to 3YA, thence broadcast and reproduced by loudspeakers in. the: hall. The next speaker was the .Deputy-Mayor. of

Christchurch, Dr. H. T.. J. Thacker, who took the place of the Mayor, the Rey. J. K. Archer, who had that evening been. hurriedly called to Wellington. Then followed Mr. L. B. Scott, the chairman of the Exhibitions Committee. ~ There were also on the platform: Messrs. L. G. -K. Stevens (Chamber of Commerce), J. G. Fairbairn, and D. B.- Parton (Post and Telegraph Department), H. P. V. Brown’ (Transmiters’ Association), H.'C. Lusty (Radio Society), and J. Ws Graham (Employers’. Association). The Hon, T. M. ‘Witford, in: his -remarks, said :- It gives me the greatest pleasure to act on behalf of my colleague the Post-: master-General and to take part in the opening of the Radio. Exhibition tonight. Although I cannot be with you in person, I am with you in spirit, and I trust that my: voice is clearly heard. I am speaking from the Parliament Buildings, Wellington, and my voice is coming to you literally from over the land, under the sea, and through the air. Under the waters of Cook Strait it is conveyed by submarine cable, and from Seddon to Christchurch by what is known as ¢arrier-current telephone. This is really a form of wireless, but instead of being! broadcast into the

ether, it follows the telephone wire. ‘Then ‘at Christchureh ‘it: is being ‘put out on to the air from 8YA. and is being picked: up again. in: the ‘Choral Hall. This is the ‘third Radio Exhibition which has been opened by long-distance telephone from ‘Wellington, and I hope that. yours in Christchurch will be as great’ a’ sticcess as those of: Auckland, Wellirgton and Dunedin. Radio is one. of .the- responsibilities attaching to the position of PostmasterGeneral, but Mr. Donald ‘tells me that it is a very interesting one because it has for years, been one of his hobbies.,

He wants to see radio become more and more popular ‘because that will mean more licenses, and more licenses mean more money to carry .on. with, and more money. means better programmes and better. service generally. Since 1924 the number of receiving licenses in New Zealand has increased from less than 8000 to more than 50,000. The figures for the different districts at present are as follow:- _ Auckland District ... 16,028 Wellington District .. 20,192 Christchurch District 8,661. Dunedin District ... 4,200 Total ....... ... 49,081" In addition, there are 186 amateur transmitters’ licenses, and 1049 dealers’ licenses, so that the grand total is now more than 300 above the 50,000 mark, I am sure that your exhibition will result in a considerable increase in the Christchureh figures. The programmes now are good, and with more revenue will be made better; the listening sets are-all that could be desired; so that anyone who is at, all interested. has -no reason :to postpone buying a set on the score that something better may be coming out in:the near future.

There is, one matter in connection with wireless that has caused a good deal of adverse comment, and , that is the regulation that every: applicant for a license must make a declaration .of secrecy. On looking into the. matter it has been found that .this regulation is of no legal value, and that: if we did away .with it the Department, would still have as much power: as ever to enforce the secrecy. of- public correspondence. . As it serves no useful purpose. and is a-cause of inconvenience to the public, the’ regulations dre being amended to abolish _ thiss declaration altogether. Lately, as you. know, the PostmasterGeneral -has approved of a reduction in. the fee charged amateur, transmit: ters, and they .will.in future pay the same rate as holders of sets designed for receiving only. Also it. has been decided to allow more latitude to amateurs sending personal messages to one another. Mr, Donald tells ‘me that he has been very pleased tg. be. able to allow these concessions, because he realises that. experiments in wireless ure .to. be encouraged, as there is alaways the chance that an amateur may hit upop an important discovery. The Post and Telegraph Department has of.recent years been applying radio principles to the ordinary, . telephone service, with marked success; I have already mentioned, the carrier current system, which. extends the range of communication, and’ permits. ‘several separate conversations to be. carried on simultaneously over the one toll line. Another recent innovation is the amplifying telephone, which the Department is now prepared to install where required... This, I think, will prove a real boon to persons of imperfect hearing, who experience difficulty with the ordinary telephone. Now, as a2 member of Cabinet, I should like to assure you that the Government propose to. continue doing all that it can to encourage the use of radio in New Zealand, and that in the present .Postmaster-General you have a Minister who is keenly anxious to see New Zealand fully abreast of the rest of the world in .the use of this modern marvel of science.

Finally, Your Worship, Mr. Scott, ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you on your enterprise in holding this exhibition.’ I wish it every success, and I declare the exhibition open. DE». H. T. J. THACKER congratulated the promoters of the Dxhibition on their excellent display, and stated that the show would be the forerunner of many big radio shows. Pndeavours should be made to obtain three or four thousand more licensed listeners in Canterbury, which would make the service far cheaper to everyone. Television was coming, he said. It was operating in other parts of the world, and, with the Dominion’s wonderful resources, there was no reason why she should not fall into line with world movements.

Radio meant an excursion into the infinite, and no one knew its possibilities. In fact, it was little doubted that the time would come when New Zealand would be sending airships to Syd‘ney on beam wireless. "To "my mind, there is too much ‘high falutin’’ music coining over the air," said Dr. Thacker. "These things like "‘Tannhauser,’ etc., are too heavy. I like the light music. Radio can be good, bad, or indifferent, but I like the brightness of music." The benefits of radio were immense, he said, and no people in the, world derived more pleasure from it than sick people-it brought joy to the bedside. Dr. Thacker again congratulated the executive of the exhibition, which, he said, had made the Choral Halil into a stepping-stone towards a far greater expansion of radio, Oe tenamesletumesmementiamemennbesterumaniemsdenmmnetaseipsensiathnmasimsastedeasnasanaidiaunniansnsenienaiametanestniemmemsiananys NS

R. L. B, SCOTT said that the increasing popularity of radio placed | an obligation on the radio industry to put before the public in the most convenient form its latest developments. For this reason the Christchurch Radio Bxhibition was being held-the first of its kind in Christchurch. This year had seen a market advance in receiving sets, particularly in regard to tonal qualities and purity of reproduction, "The day of much volume without clarity is past,’ said Mr. Scott. "Clarity is now the first but not the ultimate aim, as with modern im‘provements, amplification of volume is possible to an extent not previously anticipated. This has been attained by the general improvement in the design and construction of the various components throughout the whole of the receiver up to the speaker, which plays an important part, During the; past eighteen months the all-electric set hag been on the market, and has proved very popular; by making use of the electric light supply it does away with the need of batteries and so makes for simplicity of operation, Broadcasting -is fast becoming a public service, and is an indispensable means of entertainment-at a remarkably low individual cost, The farmer is realising the value of weather reports and market reports, and an endeavour is being made to institute a primary producers’ service to deal solely with agricultural and pastoral problems. We see the application of radio principles resulting in the "talkies." We hear of the prégress made with television, and await the next move-wondering. Television is a present field of endeavour Just as was radio some few years ago, and probably in the near future you will be able to witness distant happenings from your armchair at home." Mr. Scott concluded by welcoming everyone to the exhibition and commended them to inspect the various stalls which housed the most up-to-date apparatus imported into the Dominion.