Closing of 1ZQ.

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 51, 3 July 1931, Page 11

Closing of 1ZQ.

Statement by Manager PVE have received the following letter from the manager of Station 1ZQ in regard to the closure applied by the Minister :- "Regarding your notice of the closing of an Auckland B Class Station for advertising in your issu. of the 26 inst. it seems that you have been misinformed as to the situation, and it is due to me to give the correct position which I hope you will publish. "The Auckland B Class Station 1ZR, which was advertising largely through the day and evening sessions, and ich 1 believe can claim to be the first Class Station in New Zealand to issue a schedule of prices for broadcast advertising, was not closed nor was any notice taken of it until 1ZQ was closed; while 1ZQ, which is the oldest B Class Station in New Zealand, was closed because it mentioned only its own name (Keith’s Radioshack) and the name of the firm supplying it with gramophone records. These an‘nouncements have been made from all B Class Stations in New Zealand, as every listener knows, and are necessary if records are to be obtained for programmes, "Tt seems strange that one only of the stations making such announcements should have been closed, while the station which made a feature of advertising a number of Auckland business. houses. should not have been closed; also it seems strange that other B Class Stations are still making announcements of theiy own name and also the names of firms supplying them with records. "Tt seems strange that such action should have been taken, as almost at the same time the Hon. J. B. Donald made the statement permitting spon sored programmes, "I haye all. the correspondence _between Broadcast Station 1ZQ and the P. and Tf. Department, as well as a copy of most of the advertising anouncements made by other B Class Stations throughout New Zealand, and think the whole matter strange. "When the Minister, the Hon. J. B. Donald, was interviewed on the subject, he refused to discuss the matter. "The above statement is absoluteiy correct as I can prove, and in fairness to myself and 1ZQ I should be obliged fif you will publish it-Thanking you in anticipation. ROY KEITH, Manager Broadcast Station 1ZQ. [Our information simply was that an Auckland station had been closed because of using advertising matter. We had no information as to the type of matter complained of. We certainly agree on the fundamental principle that one ruling should apply to all and no unfairness should operate against any one station.-Ed.] ~