RADIO DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1934, Page 6

RADIO DISPUTE

iREPTA r 'Bi’§’HE HON. A. HAMILTON

%> er Press- Association— Copyright.! ' ‘ ;&r •; ' * : WELIdNTi r tCN,> December 5. The '.postmaster-Dcrietal. Hon. A Hamilton, stated to-day that his at -tention- been <i : reefed ..to the,jathoring ..held s 'at Auckland at wlu.r.h the Rev. ’G. Scri.mgeour, 'leader «f the “Friendly Road” movement made reference to the- proposal on the part o Broadcasting Station IZB to broadcast the messages transmitted by Mi C- • Ulm during his flight across the pacific : Mr Hamden said: “It hias learned that the messages were to be received bj an amateur transmitter and to be handed to Station IZB for broadcasting and Ret. Mr Scrimgeour was written to and informed that thfe pioposal was contrary to the provisions of the radio 'regulations, and could, therefore, not be permitted. Th e reception of messages .intended for third parties, by amateurs, is expressly forbidden by the international agreoI ment to which New Zealand is a signatory, and also contrary to the provision's of the regulations, which, substantially and rightly, are based upon international requirements. Mr Hamilton says: The Department was ready to assist in any appropriate and suitable manner the wishes of the “Friendly Road” movement in the direction desired. No further representations were made to the Department, which, therefore, assumed that _ the idea was not being persevered with.’

Mr Hamilton sav s he deemed it necessary to disabuse the public nvml of any impression that the Department had been obstructive. It was entirely wrong to suppose that any discrimination wins exercised to the dctiiment of Station IZB, or any other B class station, and <if entirely necessary and reasonable steps were taken to ensure the operation of broadcasting stations in .accordance with the conditions under which they are licensed, arc construed a s irritating tactics, he could only say that such an attitude was a. f.(tally mistaken conception of l lu ' duty devolving on the Department.