Plans For Opening Radio Station

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 3

Plans For Opening Radio Station

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON,

February 16.

The Director-Gene-ral of Broadcasting (Mr G. H. Stringer) said today the opening of the new station at Blenheim, 2ZE, on March 13, had been timed to coincide with the Marlborough Festival. Speakers during the opening ceremony would include a member of the corporation, Mr Reeves Harris and the Mayor of Blenheim, Mr S. P. Harting. There would also be recorded messages from the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Scott) and the Minister of Labour and member for Marlborough (Mr Shand).

“The first transmission from 2ZE, which has been allocated the frequency of 1540 kilocycles, will begin at 6 p.m. on March 13,” said Mr Stringer, “and will include coverage of the opening ceremony.” This transmission would end at 7.30 p.m. “Progress on the establishment of 2ZE, which will undoubtedly play a significant part in the continued development of the community it will serve, has been very pleasing and we are appreciative of the efficient way in which the building contractor, Mr L. C. Duckworth, has erected the building,” said Mr Stringer. ‘Tor the last few days an N.Z.B.C. technical team has been engaged on the installation of the studio equipment and the station’s new ikw transmitter. The 130 ft aerial tower has, of course, already been erected on the site.”

A fully commercial station, 2ZE will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. from Monday to Saturday and between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Saturday evenings. The breakfast session will be arranged along similar lines to those which have proved popular on other commercial stations throughout the country. The 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. broadcast period on Saturday evenings will be used mainly for the provision of a sports service and for the broadcast of local events and news items.

Provision will be made for extensions of the normal broadcasting hours to cater for coverage of appropriate local events, and for linking with a Wellington station when warranted.

The corporation has appointed a manager and an announcer for 2ZE.

The manager will be Mr

A. C. Palmer, aged 28. and the announcer, Mr T. H. Olsen, aged 27. Mr Palmer, who was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, joined the N.Z.B.S. in March, 1955, as a cadet at 3ZB. The next year he was transferred to Invercargill where he trained as a copywriter before moving to station IZG, Rotorua, in 1960-

After three years as a salesman-copywriter at Rotorua, Mr Palmer was promoted to senior copywriter at 2XN, Nelson, the position he has held till his Blenheim appointment.

Mr Palmer, who is single, is an organist and choirmaster and last year organised the Nelson-Marlborough Methodist Choir and Drama Festival. He hopes to be able to organise a similar festival this year. In addition to his copywriting duties in broadcasting, he has also compiled church

music programmes for Christmas and Easter.

Mr Olsen, married, with an 18-month-old daughter, was educated at St. Bede’s College, Christchurch.

He spent five years as a bank officer before joining the N.Z.B.S. in 1961 as an announcer trainee at Christchurch. The next year he was transferred to 2XG, Gisborne, as an announcer and in January, 1963, continued his announcing duties at IZD, Tauranga.

During his two years at IZD, Mr Olsen compiled and presented a weekly “Singalong” programme of top tunes.

He was a member of the Elmwood Players in Christchurch and for a short time was on the committee of the British Drama League. The new station’s staff will include a receptionist-typist,

Mrs Lesley Corlett, and a technician, whose appointment has yet to be confirmed.