Transmitting from Napier

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 33, 27 February 1931, Page 17

Transmitting from Napier

2AK’s Activities NCERNING the activities of the "hams" who went:through to Napier following the disaster, the Western Dlectrie Company writes:"While we appreciate the excellent work done by Messrs. Green and Dickson and the spirit in which it was performed, nevertheless we think that the majority of the. credit lies with Mr. A. M; Cooper, of call-sign

ZL2AK. Mr. Cooper..is an employee of this company, and as soon as word was receiyed of the disaster in Napier he was dispatched immediately by us with the understanding that he was to report to the Post and Telegraph Department in Napier and consider himself as under their jurisdiction. "On reaching Napier Mr. Cooper immediately placed himself in the hands of the telegraph engineer, Mr. Green, and soon after the transmitter

was erected the Post and Telegraph Department took it over officially, giving it the call-sign of ZLN, Actually, according to the above-mentioned department, this station was the first Sra coiamunicating station in Naer. "Jn point of fact, Messrs. Green and Dickson were first on the air on behalf of the Red Cross and working under -their amateur call-sign. To avoid confusion they were requested by the Post and Telegraph Department to refrain from transmitting, but on Mr. Cooper’s suggestion they transferred their transmitter from the Red Cross depot to the Hastings Street School, In this-location they transmitted one or two messages on an of-. ficial basis, but after that the department again stopped them transmitting, and Mr. Cooper’ carried on with the cal sign of ZLN, as originally issued to him. "Mr. Cooper placed himself entirely in the department’s hands, and for a period of one week he stood by the transmitter practically without 4. preak. Apparently in the eyes of the department he did sterling work, as they were very loath to let him go and would not under any circumstances hear of him taking tlie transmitter. . "According to the latest report we have had from Napier, the station is still on the air and is likely to. remain until all danger in that district is over."