RADIO STATION JAMMED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21639, 25 November 1935, Page 10

RADIO STATION JAMMED

OCCURRENCE AT AUCKLAND SPEECH MADE INAUDIBLE {THE PEESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, November 24. Interference which radio experts described as deliberate and emanating from a powerful unknown wireless station rendered inaudible to many listeners an address given by the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, from the Friendly Road radio station, IZB, to-night. The interference followed an anonymous telephone warning that the transmission "would never go over." A further development was a warning received by Mr Scrimgeour this evening that he was in personal danger. Mr Scrimgeour said to-night that he was at a loss to understand the reasons for the warnings and the jamming. Nothing in his talk was harmful or offensive in any degree to anybody.

The Government radio inspector said to-night that an official investigation is being made into the occurrence. This is the first time a case of this sort has happened in New Zealand. Some listeners said the interfering noise was like a sustained whistle, while others described it as a prolonged roar.

"It was one of my routine Sunday evening talks to the man in the street," said Mr Scrimgeour. "Wherever I touched on politics it was only in the broadest sense and certainly not making reference to the party aspect." When Mr Scrimgeour left IZB studio for his home by motor-car to-night he was accompanied by a friend and escorted by a police motor-car. The journey was uneventful.