A Successful Year

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 51, 3 July 1931, Page 6

A Successful Year

North Taranaki Radio Society Reports Good Progress

‘A. VERY successful year in which "™' the North Taranaki Radio Society had improved its position from an almost dying condition to a very flourishing position was reported at the annual meeting of the society held at New Plymouth Tuesday last. Mr. F. T, Davis (president) presided over a good attendance. The work of the society, said the report, had proceeded smoothly during the year and its main activities had een concerned with the running of station 2YB. As a’ result of the enthusiasm displayed at the last annual meeting the society was able to avoid, ‘ag then seemed inevitable, the closing down of the station. The society was, on the contrary, able to move into ‘its present premises more or less free from financial anxiety and "‘consequently. to.continue the service to listeners whicl it had been the aim of the society to provide. Sports relays were a feature of the service last winter and would be continued during the present season by the courtesy of the Taranaki Rugby ‘Union. Arrangements were practic: ally complete for commencing broadcasts of the Sunday evening services. from several churches, and an announcement would shortly be made. Saturday night dance programmes were a feature last winter, and. a similar service had been arranged for the pregent ‘year. The society expressed its thanks to al] who had extended their assistance #o-it during the year and expressed the hope that the interest and goodwill of the public would be sustained durjing the coming year. The Financial Position. THE palance-sheet showed receipts totalling £397/2/6, and expenditure totalling £352/3/-, leaving a credit palance in hand and in the bank of £44/9/6. The society’s assets were "set down at £254/9/8. The receipts included subscriptions £91/7/6, donations £138/4/4, subsidy from Radio Broadcasting Company £91/13/4, and the expenditure, relay lines, etc., £0: 13/6, furniture and fittings £105/11/10, purchase of plant £45/19/9, rental of studio £68/15/-. Moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman [te called that at this time last year the society was on the verge of dying, but great enthusiasm was shown and a large accession to the membership followed a drive that was made, so that the society was able to take over

new premises, The support received in money was not the only support, but great help had been received in the furnishing of the studio. Now the studio was second to none in Australia and New Zealand for stations of the class. The new station was opened by the Mayor, Mr. H. V. 8. Griffiths, on July 14, 1930 and had since given service ‘with which all had been satisfied. Changes in Staff, R. G. CHAMPION, sports recorder, had notified his intention of resigning during the year, but had agreed to carry on until he could be replaced. The society was fortunate in being able to obtain the services of Mr. J. S$. King, who was well qualified to undertake the work. Last year, Mr. Davis said, the society had instituted a series of dance programmes and arrangemerts were made for records to be supplied by dealers in the town. Thé dealers had done so, but the difficulty was that they were not all prepared to make up the list of programmes, The position had been changed this year by placing’ the control of the supply of records under one firm, Messrs, W. Hi. Nimmo and Sons. The society was indebted to the services of the Misses

Banks for their assistance with the use of records for broadcasting. HH REV. R. B. GOSNELL, who was conducting the children’s sessions, found last year he could not carry on with the work. Thanks were due to him for what he did. The Rey. ¥. A. Parry took over the children’s session, and the sdciety should express its appreciation of what he had done. Mr. A. B. Macdonald found it necessary to resign from the position of programme director and was replaced by Mr. Edmondston, who now also had to resign. Mr. H. Morey, station pianist, had intimated his willingness to take over the control of station programmes. Mr. W. R. Johns, who announced on Sunday nights, was unable to continue his work, so some rearrangement in the staff of the station would be necessary. He would like, said the chairman, to tender on behalf of the committee thanks to those mentioned, to Mr. P Fairbrother for his work at the station each night, and to all those who had volunteered for extra relay work outside the station. Interest in the station had been very great during the year, and he would express the society’s appreciation of all who had assisted,

Mr. A. Dunkley, in seconding the motion, expressed the thanks of radio dealers at the winter show for the help the society had given by announcements broadcast from the station. Several of the associations he was connected with, Mr. R. Day said, were very pleased with the help 2Y¥B had. given in the broadcast of propaganda. The following officers were elected: -President, Mr. F. T. Davis; vice-pre-sident, Mr. HB. J. L. Payne; executive, Messrs. lL. F. Binns, I. W. B. Roy, H. Lee, J. A. Pigott, A. B. Macdonald, J. S. King, F. Huggard; hon. auditor, Mr. R. Pepperell; hon. secretary, and treasurer, Mr. W. H. Quickfall. Relay from 2YA. R. DAY asked whether the financial position of the society was such that it would be able to carry on th year without appealing to the poli The society did not wish to public appeal in view of the present conditions, the chairman replied. The subsidy from the Radio Broadcasting Company would bring in a definite amount of revenue, which would pay the rent, and if members paid their subscriptions the society should be in a good position." The society would carry on as long as it could without worrying the public. Mr. Croker asked if there were any chance of including 2YB in the broadeast circuit ta which the bigger stations contributed. The chairman answered that the difficulty had been to get duplicates of records. The only thing promised yet was a comic serial which would fill 15 minutes each evening. It was the first of its kind promised, but later the station hoped to obtain other records when available. To a question from Mr. Dunkley whether it would be possible to make arrangements to relay the 2YA band concert programmes on Sunday nights. Mr. J. A. Pigott replied that the difficulty was that the telephone lines were being used for carrier telephony and were not available to the broadcasting company at present. The Government itself had prohibited the use of those lines.