NEW RADIO STATION.

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1929, Page 5

NEW RADIO STATION.

AT NEW PLYMOUTH Relay Stations for Other , Towns. (Per Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 28. Broadcasting Station 2YB, New Plymouth, was officially opened last night, its success may be judged from the fact that the General Manager of the Broadcasting Company reported from Semnor, Christchurch, that he had. perfect reception there during the ceremony. Mr John Ball, on behalf of tho Broadcasting Company, made an. announcement, which Mr E. Payne (President of the North Taranaki Radio Society) characterised as marking an important milestone in the history of radio in New Zealand. Mr Ball said that Station 2YB was not intended as a full broadcast service, but ratheir to fill a gap until such time as something 1 better was available. A greatly desired development was, he believed, in the lap of the very near future. The General Manager of the Coy had visioned a national broadcast system in which there would, be in the chief provincial centres throughout the Dominion a chain of efficient relay stations linked with the four main stations. It was to be a veritable model of completeness and efficiency. The General Manager had already submitted fo<r the consideration of the Government an outline of the whole scheme. Mr Bal] asked the listeners to visualise a scheme of efficient stations at Napier, Hastings Nelson, Greymoutk, Timaru, Invercargill, Hamilton, New Plymouth. Wanganui, Palmerston, and Gisborne. AH of these stations would be connected by land lines, so that all would be in touch, regardless of the atmosphor’c conditious. The Company’s policy was not limited to the technical side, but it intended to work for an improvement of the programmes, and beyond these there was a great field of inestimable value, to the community. It had been proved that, the broadcasting of scientific instruction had enormously increased primary production in other countries. One of the most eminent authorities in the Dominion. Dr Chilton, wa s at present engaged in investigating the possibilities of such a. service.