1334 Messages in Three Hours

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 26, 4 January 1935, Page 18

1334 Messages in Three Hours

Feat of 1ZB’s Announcer on Christmas Day-Station Director of 1YA Has to Be a Walking Encyclopaedia--New Studio Building Not Yet Completed-Opening Date Not Announced.

YA’s sports announcer, Mr. Gordon Hutter, was in fine form last week when presiding: at the microphone at both the :racecourses at Dllerslie and Epsom..His descriptions of the galloping and trotting events on these popular courses were really well done and this experienced sports commetator infused just. enough humour now and then to make things more interesting for the many listeners. IS Royal Highness used two radio sets at Government House last week while in residence at Auckland. One was.a 7-valve all-wave model. of, Australian make (described. in’ last week’s "Radio Record"), while an additional set for ordinary broadcast programmes was installed by a local radio’ inspector for the Royal guest’s use, Ua forunately, the conditions were not favourable for good reception éarly on Boxing Day when his Majesty the King. broadeast a special Empire message. but the Duke was able to hear most of what his Royal father said. HB new 1YA sttidio building is not yet completed. Joiners, carpenters and plumbet's are stitl employed there, but the building is nut far off completion, After these workmen are finished, there remnains much sweeping, cleaning and polishing to be done before the stution looks really presentable, The staff has been carrying on under éxtreme difficuities sinee the unofficial opening on December 17, and only a few of the many rodms have so fat been occupied.‘ Hach day Mr. B. Hands, the general manager of thé board, Who is spending a "holiday" in

Auckland, visits the station to urge the workers on. So far the date of the official opening of the building has-not been anounced. ZB’s announcer had a particularly ~ busy time on Christmas morning when the Friendly Road station came on the air at an early hour to inforim children exactly where they would find the presents deposited by Father Christmas, For three hours without a ~ stop the announcer broadcast- these messages to the kiddies. In all 13834 messages were despatched over the ain. The anouncer was extremely tired after this. feat and after three hours was compelled to state that the’ remainder would have to be broadcast at a hater date. The above is but another instance of the popularity of this good B station. ; LAst week the contractor entrusted with the job of taking down the two 100ft. masts on’ top of George Court’s building, had completely. removed one of the. tall latticed struc turés whith had carried 1YA’s aerial for so many years. This mast has been stored at Henderson in case it may. be ‘used later. "The -other mast is to be taken down early in the New Year and will be re-erectad on the top of the new studio bitilding in Shortland Street. Four electric signs, each 12 feet in ‘ height showing the letters "1YA" are to be placed on the top of the mast. QUITE a few of the tourists who made the trip from Australia to New Zéaland on the luxury liners Strathnaver and Oronsay called to inspect the new studio of 1YA'last week. The majority. of the callers were per-

sons interested in radio work in Australia, all being. both delighted and surprised. at what they saw.. One-of these was the announcer of 2LW who could scarcely believe that Auckland Was 80 far ahead of Australia’ where even the best equipped studio has been. improvised. The new 1¥A studio building is the first in Australia or New Zealand to be spécially designed and built for broadcasting purposes: RE you broadcasting the fireworks display to-night?’ "Oan you tell me where the Duke is going this afternoon and will his speech be broadcast?" "What time do the races start to-day?" "Have you heard any more news of Ulm?" . Thesé were but a féw of the questions put to 1YA’s station director over, the telephone last Wednesday (Boxing Day) when I happened: to be in his office talking to him,. The official courteously replied to the questions, of course.. The public have no idea of thé many and the yaried, téquésts Which continually come to the station by phone. In addition to rtunning the station such an official has to be a- human encyclopaedia, have plenty of patience, and, above all, be tactful and most courteous. YA catered for holiday makers and other listeners in fine style over the Christmas and New Year holidays when the'announcers and other ‘station officials had a ‘particularly busy: time. — All stood up to their heavy task really well and the results of the rates in, all parts of the Dominion, also general sports events were fully and promptly proadeast. Particularly appreciative were. holidaymakers :who. were either touring.in the country districts and those who went atvay cruising and lis tened in on sets carried on thet launch--es and yachts. . tot