Porirua Radio Installation

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 25, 2 January 1931, Page 5

Porirua Radio Installation

Opened on Christmas Day

HBE radio equipment installed at the Porirua Mental Hospital as a result of the recent public appeal was officially handed over to the hospital authorities at an appropriate ceremony on Christmas Day. The equipment is a radio-gramo-phone combination. Two installations are in "Rauta" Villa, one on the men’s side and one on the women’s side. Attached to the installation in the men’s section are 45 headphones and three loudspeakers, while that in the women’s division has 45 headphones and seven loudspeakers. Another installation has been put in the nurses’ home, this one containing seven loudspeakers and two headphones. In the "H" cottaze, for old people, there is a combination set. The villa known as "Valima" has a separate combination set, with 18 headphones and three loudspeakers. In the "Tiromoana" villa for men there is also a combination set with ten headphones and one loudspeaker, All the sets are constructed so as to carry additional speakers or headphones. The equipment can pick up all New Zealand A and B stations, all A celass Australian stations, while American stations have also been heard. The work already completed has cost about £1280, and arrangements are now being made to put an installation in what is known as the lower buildings and the three adjacent villas, Opening by Minister. FROM the studio of 2YA in Featherston St, the voice was heard of the Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, ‘who officially declared the installation open. The Minister expressed keen appreciation of the efforts of the honorary organiser of the public appeal, Mr. L. O. Hooker, and thanked those who had subscribed and made the installation of the equipment possible. He wished one and all a "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." "Tt am vyery glad to be here this Christmas Day and have the opportunity of expressing to you, one and all, my sincere greetings and goodwill, not only for a happy celebration of Christmas Day itself, but for abounding good fortune during the coming year," said the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Dr. T, G. Gray. "I want to convey to Mr. Hooker, the man who did it, the sincere thanks of all those who are interested in the hospital and to congratulate him on the result of his efforts. "tT may say quite frankly that, in common with many others, I had grave doubts as to whether Mr. Hooker could raise sufficient to have this installation completed by Christmas, and that he has done it is a great tribute to his unselfishness, his determination, his faith in human kindness, and his unquenchable optimism. A National Service. "TN these days when pessimism is abroad in the land the man who possesses these qualities and disseminates them to others is doing a national service in gaising the morale of the

people, and, in addition to the thanks we give to Mr. Hooker for raising the radio fund, we owe him much for the fine spirit which he radiates around him. It is a great source of comfort in hard times to count our blessings and the hospital has been abundantly blessed in its friends during the past year. "While thanking Mr. Hooker and those who contributed so handsomely to the radio fund, let us not forget the magnificent gifts from the Rev, Mr. Harding and Mrs, Knight, and that from Messrs. Nimmo and Sons. I take this opportunity of also acknowledging the great labour of love carried

on by the welfare branch of the Women’s National Reserve, who, under the direction of Mrs. Guthrie and Miss Wiltshire, send a splendid hamper to the institution every month. Finally, to Mrs. Fraser and Mrs. MeVicar and the other official visitors, we owe a great debt. They are not only official visitors, but warm-hearted friends of the hospital, To all these I say thank you, and to each and everyone here I extend my very real wishes for Christmas and New Year." Generous Subscribers. R. HOOKER said that his work in conjunction with the appeal had been a pleasure, He related how he came to be interested in the work and take up the appeal, One day he called to see a friend in the hospital, and it struck him that a radio installation would not only be a good medicine but bring them into touch with the outside world. Mr. Hooker referred to the generous spirit of the subscribers in Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, and Taranaki. He particularly wanted to thank the school children for the way they had responded to the appeal. When the installation was completed it was intended to go in for a small broad- casting station for the use of the hospital, People whe came out to give

concerts could then be heard through speakers in the wards without the patients having to squeeze into the one hall to hear the items. He wanted to thank Dr, Gray and his department: for the help he had received from them. Mr. W. G. Carpenter, who frequently speaks "over the air" as "Uncle George," said he believed that the installation would be the means of helping the patients on the road to recovery. very considerably. He understood that the installation of the equipment was one of the finest, things accomplished in recent years, In accepting the equipment, the medical superintendent, Dr. J. U. Williams, thanked Mr. Hooker and all those who had contributed. The nurses, patients, staff in general, and himself, had unanimously agreed to call the loudspeaker in the women’s day room the "Hooker Speaker," and the one in the men’s day room the "Hawera Speaker." Cheers were then given for Mr. Hooker and Dr. Williams. The visitors were entextained at afternoon tea,