2ZW’S SWAN SONG

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 61, 5 December 1933, Page 7

2ZW’S SWAN SONG

Final Address by Mr. R. H. Nimmo REGRET AND PRIDE At the close of the studio concert given by station 2ZW'on Sunday night, and before it finally closed down after two and a half years’ operation, the station director, Mr. It. 11. Nimmo, spoke the last farewells to listeners-in. He thanked the station staff for its loyal and efficient service, the 2ZW Radio Club, officers of the Smith Family, the Post and Telegraph, Department, those responsible for the children’s sessions, and others who had co-operated with the station during its life.. He spoke of the encouragement and the generous response always extended to the station in .Its unceasing efforts to alleviate distress, which had been a policy followed by the station since its inception. ’■A Great Privilege.” “It is but natural that the staff, who are all present in this room to-night, feel somewhat sad that the time has now come to bid farewell to their countless thousands of radio listeners . . . .” said Mr. Nimmo. “The microphone, to many persons speaking for the first time, appears to be a soulless piece of mechanism and a thing to be dreaded, but to the experienced announcer it is a thing to be treated almost with reverence. Indeed, it is a portal to the hearts, minds and home life of the people of the Dominion. “When one realises the tremendous potentialities of speaking over the air and the influence that broadcasting baton the life of the community, one must feel that the use of the microphone is a great privilege. .1 consider one of the greatest experiences in life is to know the thrill of speaking through the microphone to that great unknown audience of countless listeners, not only throughout New Zealand but beyond our shores. Pioneering Work. “It must be obvious to all that tonight is naturally tinged with regret," Mr. Nimmo continued. “Indeed to me it is a somewhat sad occasion, but, personally, I do not allow the closing down of the station to be clouded altogether with this aspect, because we are all naturally very happy and very proud at the knowledge of the great pioneering work which has been accomplished by this station in the development of radio broadcasting in the Dominion. "We feel that our contribution has been worth while, and we know that we are laying aside our pick and shovel conscious of the fact that we have done till within our power to help our city and country during a most difficult period, and we can all congratulate ourselves that that difiicitlt period is rapidly passing away and that we see on all sides evidence of a return to prosperity. Good Wishes to Board. “The staff joins me in extending every good wish to the Broadcasting Board in its great and difficult task of evolving the policy, developing and controlling the future of radio broad- , casting in the Dominion. To our sister station 2YA, we extend felicitations,

and to 2YC we sincerely wish every success in taking over the running of 2ZW. which, from to-night, will be a memory, but I trust always a happy one. Let us hope that 2ZW will always he looked upon as just another milestone in the progress of the capital city. "To our listening public, again out heartfelt thanks and sincere apprecia tion. Good-night and good-bye 1”