Secrecy over radio station

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32488, 24 December 1970, Page 1

Secrecy over radio station

Secrecy is being observed on plans by the Avon Broadcasting Company to establish a private radio station at Mairehau, for which a warrant will probably be sought when the Broadcasting Authority next sits in Christchurch.

Earlier this month, Inanga Farms, Ltd, advertised that it had lodged application with the Waimairi County Council for a specific town-planning departure to enable a radio mast and transmitting building to be erected at 749 Hills Road, between McSaveneys and Prestons Roads.

The principal of Inanga Farms, Ltd, Mr W. W. Carpenter, said: “I don’t know anything about it,” and referred a reporter to his solicitor, who in turn referred him to another solicitor, who said he had been asked to say nothing about the project. The’papers lodged with the

council gave no details except the name of the company. Spokesmen for the Gospel Radio Fellowship and th,e Canterbury Broadcasting Company said that the application did not relate to their plans to establish radio statiqps. A Post Office radio licensing officer said that he expected the Broadcasting Authority to be sitting again in Christchurch in April. His office had had no specific inquiries relating to a new station, but neighbouring property owners had asked what effect the station would have on property values. The secretary of the Broadcasting Authority (Mr J. D’Ath) said by telephone from Wellington that the authority would be calling for applications for radio station warrants. ft