RADIO HIMATANGI OPENED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 12

RADIO HIMATANGI OPENED

New Zealand Link With Overseas £300,000 SPENT ON STATION (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSON NORTH, November 9. Radio Himatangi, officially opened today, now provides a modem link for radio-telephone and radio-telegraph communications with overseas. This marks an important step in the progress of New Zealand, for on the transmission. of messages quickly and efficiently depends much of the economy of the country. Previously all radiotelephone conversations with England and the United States went through Australia. Situated 19 miles south of Palmerston North in a barren section of county near the coast, the £300,000 station occupies more than 800 acres of land, covered for the. most part with a sprawling system of aerials. There are also a large transmitting and power-house and administration block, two rows of staff houses, and single men’s quarters and recreation rooms. The station was opened- by the Postmaster-General (Mr W. J. Broadfoot). The attendance of 1000 was beyond expectations, and many had to stand among the equipment during the ceremony. All speakers paid tribute to the staff of the Post and Telegraph Department who had worked on the project The Director-General of the department (Mr P. N. Cryer), who presided, said that it was a memorable occasion in the history of the New Zealand Post Office. “Today brings to fruition what has been a dream for many years.” he said. “That it is so today is due to the work of a great many people—and among them we must not forget the pioneers in the field of radio. I would like to take this opportunity—and it is one which does not occur very often—of paying a tribute to those men behind the scenes in- our communications system, the P. and T; radio staff.”

Sir Matthew Oram, Speaker of the House of Representatives and member of Parliament for Manawatu, described the opening of the station as an event of world-wide importance. Australian Interest Representing the Australian Overseas Telecommunications Commission, Mr J. Malone brought a message of greeting to New Zealand. He said his country was very'' interested in national events in New Zealand and, in particular, in this radio link with the outside world. Australia was engaged in a similar project. Himatangi showed evidence of wise planning and sound methods of scientific' engineering, design, and construction. It was a graceful and thoughtful gesture on the part of the Minister of the department to invite a representative of the press of the country to speak at the ceremony, said the chairman of the New Zealand Press Assnciation (Mr P. H. N. Free th). Any improvements in the speed and efficiency of the service the press gave to the public were to be welcomed. The Post and Telegraph Department, as the carrier, and the newspapers, as disseminators of news, were almost a working partnership, he added. Mr Broadfoot thanked the Australian telegraph service for the service New Zealand had received for many years, and praised those whose work had made the station possible. He referred to his recent radio-telephone conversation with the British Post-master-General (Earl de la Warr), and a recording of this conversation was played to those present. After declaring the station open Mr Broadfoot said that he looked forward to the time when it would be common to receive a call to the telephone and hear, “London calling”