The Case for B Stations

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 21, 4 December 1931, Page 9

The Case for B Stations

Problems for the Radio Board

Views of a Correspondent

A’ esteemed country correspondent, who is keenly interested in the development of the radio service, writes as fol‘tows: I trust that you will afford me the hospitality of your columns to express a country man’s viewpoint on the problem that will confront the Radio Board when it sets itself seriously to develop the radio service in New Zealand. I am concerned-as we all are-that the development in the future shall be on the most economical and most efficient lines. As a country listener, I have benefited considerably by the enterprise and service of the various "B" class stations throughout the country-following, of course, upon that of the YA service, which I have fully enjoyed. A considerable amount of capital has been put into the "B" class plants by the owners of these stations, and it seems to me that, facing the times of stringency with which we are now confronted, it would be desirable for the Board, as far as may ‘prove possible, to co-operate with these stations rather than embark upon the erection of new stations. If a large part of the Board’s revenue is to be directed to capi- tal expenditure, that must inevitably be reflected in a restriction of programme expenditure. Hence a definite benefit would be ‘conferred upon listeners by any scheme which could effect economy, while still achieving efficiency, by co-operation with existing stations. ie the "Radio Log" for No-vember-upon which usefui little monthly may I congratulate your organisation?-there is a map of New Zealand showing the location of all the "B" class stations in New Zealand. Taking that map and working downward from Auckland, we get the following results :- Auckland ........ 5 "RR" class stations (ineluding 1 at Manurewa, a dozen miles out). Hamilton ........

New Plymouth ... 1 (Already working in con-. junction with the YA services.) Wanganui ...... 1 Palmerston North . 2 Hastings ........ 2 Napier .....0.... 2 Wairoa .eeccooee L Gisborne ...cocesee. 2 Dannevirke ...... 1 Eketahuna ....6.. lL Masterton ...ccose 1 Wellington ...... 2 Christchurch .... 1 Dunedin ......008 6 Inchclutha ...... 1 2 Invercargill ....6. and , Greymouth ...... S° far as the coverage of the country is concerned, that list is fairly comprehensive. Cer tain deficiencies, however, exist, in that strategic points are not covered. The most notable of these are Whangarei, to serve North Auckland; Rotorua, to serve the Bay of Plenty, and incidentally draw upon the very fine array of Native talent available in the Hot Lakes district; Nelson, which suffers more severely perhaps than any other part of New Zealand from static; and Timaru. Dunedin is obvie ously overloaded with six "B" class stations in addition to the local YA station. Invercargill has two stations, as also has Palmerston North, Hastings, Napier and, Gisborne, and, of course, Wellington. The suggestion has been made that the Board should co-operate where possible with "B" class stations, provided they attain a certain standard of transmission and quality of programme service. Of that policy I think the majority of listeners would approve. The Radio Broadcasting Com pany’s proposal was that the relay stations to be provided in provincial towns should in large part be linked up by land line with the main stations. I am given to understand, however, by, (Concluded on page 10) eS

The "B" Stations

Continued from page 9.)

w technical friend that the telephone system of New Zealand is not suitable for the transmission of instrumental music. The system has been installed primarily for voice transmission. The frequencies of the human voice cover 2 much less range than is necessary for the adequate transmission of instru-’ mental music; consequently the results that could be expected of musical transmission would not be satisfactory. That. fact seems to me to make it "imperative that provincial areas mist rely upon local transmissions for highest efficiency. With gramophone réeords, in the first instance, and possibly at a later period, the use by the Board of film records of suitable British and other overseas programmes. a Wvonderful service might be built up throughout the country. the Radio Board will have the choice of,,two policies: either acquiring the ownership of selected B class stations inthe districts desired, or of contractservices, I am not greatly concerned with advocating one policy as against thé other, but I would like to urge strongly that the Radio Board give fuli consideration to the services that the B. class stations have rendered in the past and are capable of increasing in thé future, given the necessary encouragement. this certainly is a young country, antl with ‘the standard of education generally available and the high ayerage of interest in affairs, we may be inclined to want services rather beyond our means. That makes it the more imperative to effect the utmost economy in providing services within the reach of all. The "B" class stations in the cities have proved their worth as 2 source of alternative programmes to the YA stations. The YA stations necessarily have to provide a wide variety of programmes. Certain information must be given by them, although many of their listeners will not require it because they are already familiar with the news from the city newspapers. For that reason an alternative service is highly desirable. The country listener again requires his country station to combat the vagaries of transmission and reception due to geographical and atmospheric factors. If you could reproduce the map used in the "Radio Log," I am sure your readers would secure a much better bird’s-eye view of the situation than can be conveyed by my letter. Radio plays a great part in "eountry homes. With the depression farmers are being kept home more than ever. That from many points of view may not be a drawback, but no one who appreciates radio will deny that it is desirable that country residents should enjoy the privilege of radio reception equally with town folk. The Board, I am sure, will appreciate that point, and after full study of the situation will, I hope, evolve a scheme of improving the existing facilities in suitable areas and giving them to districts not now served. The "B" class stations have provided the service in the past out of a spirit of enterprise’ and largely at their own cost. Asa listener I think it timely to give them my thanks, and to express the hope that a useful Yo-ordinated system will be evolved for the future, —