LADY OF THE SEAS

Radio Record, 22 April 1938, Page 23

LADY OF THE SEAS

1ZB COVERS ARRIVAL OF THE "EMPRESS" TN covering the arrival of that royal lady of the seas, the Impress of Britain, station 1ZB carried out what is claimed to be the higgest outside relay or hook-up yet attempted in the Dominion. Arrangements entailed almost a week of preparation. live outside relay points were used -from g@ launch which relayed by means of short-wave to Announcer Doug. Laurenson's house on Takapuna beach, thence by telephone landline to 1ZB; from the summit of Mount Raugitoto (960 feet), this relay being by ineuns of the Defence Departmeni’s landline, connected with the summit, from Doug, Lanrenson's house: from Pan-American Airways’ office on the mainland waterfront, and from a stag ing erected on top of a shed at Prince's Wharf, where the giant liner berthed. On this staging a large Maori concert party sung songs and hakas of welcome. Colin Moore was the announcer on the launch and from the Empress of Britain ws she came up the harbour. Doug. Laurenson wae stationed on the top of Rangitoto, Peter Bathurst was stationed at Doug.’s house, Peter Hurt wits on duty at Pan-American Airways’ depot, and John Thompson covered events on Prince's Whart. Although the lay-out was intricaie and highly technical, the result was a perfect. well-knit broadcast, despite the fact that the ship arrived exactly one hour earlier than was expected. Each relay-announcer was equipped With earphones, enabling him to pick up the commentary when called upon. IInving heard everything previously: said, no announcer duplicated any reinarks.