RADIO “JAMMING”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 75, 10 January 1936, Page 3

RADIO “JAMMING”

ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS. MINISTER GIVES CONSENT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 9. As a result of investigations that have been made by the Government, it has been established that the “jamming” of radio station IZB Auckland, known popularly as the “Friendly Road” station, just before the general was done under instructions issued by responsible authorities, with the consent of the then PostmasterGeneral (Mr Adam. Hamilton), for the taking of steps that were adopted to put the; station off the air on that occasion. This statement was made to-day by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones). At the time of the incident, which happened; on November 24, reception from this station was mutilated by an exceedingly powerful transmitter operating on the station’s warelength. The interference, it was reported at the time, was concentrated on the period during which the director of the station, the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, was addressing listeners in the course of his usual Sunday evening session. Allegations were made that the was done deliberately, -but these were denied.

MR HAMILTON’S DEFENCE. “CLEVER, SEMI-POLITICAL PROPAGANDA. INVERCARGILL, January 9. When the Press Association message from Wellington containing a statement from the Hon. F. Jones (Post-master-General) about the “jamming” of station IZB Auckland, was referred to Mr Adam Hamilton, the former Postmaster-General, he discounted the .suggestion that there was anything very sensational about the disclosure. He said that to understand the “jamming” incident it was necessary to review the conditions under which a license was granted to the Friendly Road station.

A special license was issued to the Friendly Road station in response to a large petition that the service should he continued, after IZR (on which the station service was previously conducted) was closed. The license was different from ordinary B station licenses, as it was for a special service. There had been many applications of a somewhat similar nature to obtain a license, but all had been refused. Questioned as to the station itself, Mr Hamilton said that for some, considerable time the Friendly Road service was giving trouble, and was almost defying tlie authorities. Instructions were given that if the service offended too much it was to be stopped. “Evidently, on the occasion now in question, the service was being used —as it was often being used—for clever propaganda of a semi-political nature,” Mr Hamilton went on. “I am sure that if the service had been used to boost the Government, as it was being used in the opposite direction, there would have been a terrible hue and cry from the Opposition.” Mr Hamilton said he accepted whatever responsibility? there might be for the action that was taken in preventing IZB from broadcasting before the general election. He characterise the station management’s attitude in return for the granting of the special license as one of sheer ingratitude It was not long after IZB were permitted to erect a fairly powerful station, with a good many hours a week on the air, that the management became fairly troublesome, he said, so that this action of the authorities conducting the Friendly Road service was an excellent example of a privilege granted being used against those who granted it. Concluding the interview, Mr Hamilton said that the broadcasting policy of New Zealand was moulded on the J3ntish system, which was generally admitted to be the best in the world. Both America and Australia had aclop - ed a semi-commercial policy, and a private broadcasting station in either of those countries was consequently a very lucrative business. In his opinion, New Zealand would be wise to follow Great Britain and develop the national service in preference to a commercial one.

The most sensational development in connection with radio broadcasting in New Zealand occurred on the night ot November 24, when reception from station IZB was hopelessly niutilated by an exceedingly powerful transmittei operating on the station s wave-length. The result was that an address • delivered by the director of the Friendly Road station, the Rev. S. G. Sc nngeour, could not he followed by a gieat number of listeners. The interference, which was regarded as a deliberate attempt to “muzzle free speech, w<. the culmination of anonymous lettei received by Mr Scrimgeour and a telephone message warning him that lie need not expect that this messag would get to the people. Subsequently Mr Scrimgeour was informed that lie -was in personal danger, and the precaution was taken to arrange a police escort for him when he left the studio for his home in Kohimarama. it was believed at the time that the incident was carefully planned by political partisans who thought that Mr Scrimgeour’s utterances were opposed to their particular party’s interests. The Director-General of the post and Telegraph Department (Mr G. McNamara) announced two days iatei that the trouble was due to the tuning of an oscillator for using in making field.strength measurements in preparation for radio beacons and range for aircraft communications.