Co-operating with "B" Stations

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 3, 31 July 1931, Page 7

Co-operating with "B" Stations

Progressive Action by Radio _ Broadcasting Company

RATHUR interesting message from Timaru appeared in the daily Press last week. This was to the effect that disappointment was being felt in Timaru at the decision of the Post and Telegraph Department not to permit the installation of a radio station in Timaru. The reason advanced by the department is that no further licenses are being issued at present on account of the future of the radio system being under consideration. It is represented by those southerners who are keenly interested that this reason is not particularly valid in view of the relatively recent licensing of a "B" station in a northern city, presumably Wellington. Since that license was-issued the position has changed somewhat, and speculation is current as to whether this decision by

the department means that under the future scheme for broadcasting "B" stations would be banned altogether! "THE departmental decision is particularly regretted by Timaru enthusiasts, because local interference in that town has been very bad for some time past. This led the local Radio Society to go closely into the question of investigating the possibility of installing a plant and operating a local transmission station. Approach was made to the Radio Broadcasting Company, which company promptly interested itself in the matter, and after investigation offered to lend the Timaru people an emergency transmitting set which it had on hand, and to arrange for the relaying of programmes from SYA at regular periods. It was hop-

ed that this supplementary station at Timaru could be installed and conmr mence operations on July 30, when BYA will for the first time inaugurate a series of international programmes, These hopes, however, were dashed when, on application being made to the department for the necessary license, permission was refused on the grounds given above. Briefly, the plan for Timaru was an adaptation of the scheme which has worked so satisfactorlly in New Plymouth, where Station 2YB is operated by the Taranaki Radio Society with considerable success, The plant there was provided by the Radio Broadcasting Company, which also renders assistance in the matter of up keep and operation. THAT @ certain amount of progressive co-operation with subsidiary stations in other centres is already in progress on the part of the Radio Broadcasting Company is shown by the fact that certain centres are already receiving regular programmes by land. line from main stations for re-broad-casting. This operates in the case of 1¥YA and Hamilton. A weekly pregramme is transmitted from 1YA_ by land-line to 1ZH, operated by G. S&. Anchor, 165 Victoria Street, Hamilton. From 2YA, similarly, programmes are relayed weekly to Palmerston North and Masterton. In the case of Masterton, Station 2ZD, operated by W. D. Ansell, 25 Queen Street, re-broadcasts the programme for the delectation of Wairarapa and Lower Hawke’s Bay listeners. In Palmerston North, Station 2ZF, operated by the Manawatu Radio Club from their premises in King Street, renders a like service to Manawatu residents. In the case of Invercargill, Station 4YA transmits by. land-line the selected programme regularly to Station 4ZI, operated by G. C. Batchelor, 130 Dee Street, Invereargill. It was hoped that Station 3YA would be able to render a similar service to Timaru, but the departmental decision. for the time being puts that out of court. It is also understood that application for similar services have been made in respect of both Greymouth (which would link with SYA) and Napier (which would link with 2YA).The Greymouth proposition could not be put into operation because of n0 suitable land-line being available from Christchurch to Greymouth, and the Napier proposition was turned down on the ground that the lines were "incon ducive." The foregoing facts emphasise the degree of co-operation already being shown by the Radio Broadcasting Company with suitable and selected sta~tions in provincial centres for the delectation of country listeners. In the case of Invercargill a special relay was run from 2YA through to Invercargill on Wednesday last, on the occasion of the Ranfurly Shield match between Southland and Wellington.