Radio in Central Otago

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIV, Issue 3341, 19 November 1934, Page 5

Radio in Central Otago

BETTER RECEPTION. Mr VV. A. Bodkin, M.P., has been making representations to the New Zealand Broadcasting- Board urging that something should be done to improve the position lor radio owners in Central Otago. lie urged that something should be done to improve the service, and advocated assistance to the local Broadcasting Station at Cromwell. Mr Bodkin has now received the following letter from the General Manager of the Board;. — • “Adverting to my letter of the 17th October, I have to inform 3011 that reception conditions in Central Otago were discussed—m the light of tests taken m that area—at the recent meeting of the Advisory Council to my Board.—These tests show that reception is by no means as bad as was believed. Moreover, the decision to erect a high-power transmitter on the Otago Peninsula means that reception will be improved when operations are commenced from the new station. There is also the further point that the power of the Christchurch Station, 3YA, which is already received well in many parts of Central Otago, 'is to be increased early in the New Year to four times the present power. In view of these ciicumstances ) 1 am (fTrected to say that ni3 r Board cannot agree to subsidise the Cromwell broadcasting station.” In connection with the above, very general local opinion is that reception, on the average, could hardly be worse, further, the General Manager claims that a big improvement will follow on the erection of a modern highpower transmitter on the Otago Peninsula, and the increase of the Christchurch station after New Year to tour times its present power. In view of all this the application for a subsidy for the splendid little station at Cromwell was declined. Taking a broad view of what the country receives at the hands of the Government, we are not at all surprised. If it was some new method of draining the communitv’ by some form of local taxation the attitude might be different. It has been stated to us by those whiof can speak with authority that the license fee is the highest in any European country, while the service—well we leave that to the public whose opinions could hardly bo reproduced in these columns. It is in striking contrast to the wonderful service in Australia. In regard to the proposed increase in power of Christchurch station, one who can speak with authority assured us that this would he apparent localh r t to use his own novel expression, to the extent of the power it would take a fly to propel itself up a plate-glass window. Wo have reason to, believe the matter is not ended and that a Dominion-wide protest is being systematically organised.