No Television In N.Z. For 5 Years

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1949, Page 7

No Television In N.Z. For 5 Years

AUCKLAND, Tue. (Sp.)—“Television is not likely to come to New Zealand for another five years,” said Mr D. T. Clifton-Lewis, managing director of a radio manufacturing firm, in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday. Mr Clifton-Lewis said that there were some people expressing concern about whether, when television did come in, it would make their present radio sets obsolete. However, this would not be the case, as two sets would be required. “Television is being held out as being just around the corner, and I recently saw it stated that a large part of New Zealand would have it in one or two years, said Mr CliftonLewis. "That should not be believed. When it does come, it will entail enormous expense. One station can cover only a radius of about 50 miles, which means that a whole chain of stations will be needed.” The sets at first would cost about £6O to £l5O, but would become cheaper later. They could be manufactured in' New Zealand as soon as they were needed. “Australia has been working on television for two years, and recent announcements say it Will be another two years before it comes to anything,” Mr Clifton-Lewis concluded. “We in New Zealand'have not even started yet, so it will be about five years at least before get television.”