£200,000 CONTRACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1946, Page 3

£200,000 CONTRACT

NEW RADIO STATIONS FOR DOMINION AUSTRALIAN FIRM’S TENDER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. The New Zealand Government this week placed in Australia a £200,000 contract for the building in the Dominion of a chain of radio stations required to replace worn-put equipment. Provision is also made for a number of new stations to give improved district coverage. Tenders were received’ on very elaborate specifications, from several firms in Australia, from Britain, and from America, blit the order went to /Amalgamated Wireless of Australasia, Ltd., whose tender complied most favourably with the requirements. This Australian firm built most of lhe original national radio stations in New Zealand. The new 2YA station will be completely rebuilt at Titahi Bay and will be operating in 18 months. Preparations for replacement of the present 60-kilowatt transmitter will begin immediately. Meanwhile, two small stations, each of 2 kilowatts, at Palmerston North and Nelson respectively, are actually under construction and will be in service very soon. Provision is made for six 10 kilowatt stations, but delivery of equipment for these may take eight or nine months. Most of the work is being carried out under a schedule of replacements which had to be deferred during the war years, but the building programme includes the installation of stations in places which in the past have had an unsatisfactory service.

The reason for such a powerful 2YA station is that it is designed to give national coverage. Its range will be no greater than the present one. Australian stations, which operate on a regional system, do not need to be so powerful. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR. CHIFLEY CANBERRA, Nov. 1. Amalgamated Wireless of Australasia, Ltd., has secured a contract for 16 broadcasting stations in New Zealand according to an announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley) to-day. One of the stations will be of 60 kilowatt capacity, about six times the size of any of the medium wave broadcasting stations in Australia. Mr. Chifley said he had asked his Ministers to ensure that Amalgamated Wireless was given the most sympathetic treatment possible in the work required by Government departments.