STATIN 2ZR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 April 1934, Page 6

STATIN 2ZR

REQUEST FOR SUBSIDY BOARD CANNOT SEE WAY TO ASSIST AT PRESENT CONFLICT INC! OPINIONS—ENGINEER TO VISIT The 2ZR Radio Club has received through its patron, Mr H. Atmore, M.P. a reply to the request, made by the deputation which recently waited upon the Postmaster-General (the Hon. A. Hamilton), for a Government subsidy for the local station. The letter signed by the Hon. J. Bitchener, for the Postmaster-General, staged that the N.Z. Broadcasting' Board up to the present time could not see its way to assist, and that in view of contradictory reports regarding reception in Nelson one of the board’s engineers Mould visit, and make a report.

The letter was as follows: —

“Owing to the temporary indisposition of the Hon. Mr Hamilton I am asunowledging the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant relative to tlie request of the 'deputation that waited upon my colleague at Nelson in tlie early part of last niontn for the granting of a subsidy to assist in the operation of Broadcasting Station 2ZR, Nelson.

“In reply I desire to point out that in accordance with his promise Mr Hamilton submitted to the New Zealand Broadcasting Board a verbatim report of the deputation and I regret tc inform you that up to the present time the Board cannot See its way to to assist in the direction desired. As a matter of fact inquiries show that many contradictory reports have been received regarding the quality of the service provided to listeners by other than 2ZE, and even quite recently reports have been received testifying to the efficiency of reception from outside stations. It is also true that somelisteners have complained of the quality of the reception from these. “In view of the conflict of opinons arrangements are being made by the broadcasting board for an engineer to visit Nelson with modern field strength measuring apparatus ill order to obtain accurate data as to the receiving conditions in various parts of Nelson and its environs. It is hoped to be able to carry out these tests towards the end of next month and fnm the results so obtained the Board will then be in possession of reliable ii formation oil which to further consider the matter. l. -

“Appreciating as I do your anxiety on behalf of Nelson listeners, it is a matter of regret to me that I am not able at the moment to furnish you with a more definite reply and 1 am afraid that there is no option but to await the result of the tests which the Board contemplates carrying out.” CLUB’S LETTER TO BROADCAST* ING BOARD On receipt of the above letter the secretary of the 2ZR Club to-day forwarded a letter to the General Manager of the N.Z. Broadcasting Board tracing the history of the station, pointing out the service it provides, and replying to the statement regarding contradictory reports of reception in Nelson. The letter, inter alia, stated : ' . “When the N.Z. Broadcasting ’Board was so constituted and had takeiFqver from tlie company if appointed a tefchui-' cal commission to tour New Zealand and make a comprehensive report oil '■ all matters relating to radio broadcasting. Tlie Coverage Commission, as it was termed, reported that Nelson, among other places, was in receipt of poor outside reception, and recommended that it should receive some special consideration or assistance towards an improved service.

“The board has already carried out tests by experts armed by modern field strength measuring apparatus to obtain accurate data on reception, and in the case of the Coverage Commission reported in no uncertain terms on the conditions operating here. The recent report obtained by your board has not been made public, but judging from remarks passed by the Minister it would appear that it was anything but favourable to outside reception. In addition to this—in addition to the evidence of your own experts—you have the testimony of such men as the Bishop of Nelson, the Mayor, Mr W. J. Moffatt, the Chamber of Commerce, the Nelson Progress League, the Nelson City Council, and qther local bodies. Now, after hearing the evidence of your experts, and the gentlemen and bodies referred to, it is stated that many contradictory reports have been received regarding reception here, while some listeners have complained of the quality of reception.

“I am directed by my executive to request that your board will consider the case of Nelson and give us a definite reply, one way or the other. We have ccpsiddrable commitments with 2ZR and have no desire to be forced off the air, leaving a lot of debts which we as individuals would be bound to honour. I have already stressed upon you the fact that we are a club of listeners, with no commercial interests whatsoever, and I would be glad therefore if you will kindly see your way clear to expedite matters as suggested in the opening lines of this paragraph. I would also be glad if you would kindly inform me just what the board’s policy is regarding the service of Nelson . Also in view of the fact that the Coverage Commission’s report was made public, would you kindly supply for the information of our listeners a copy of the officer s report on 3YA reception in Nelson '!”

‘‘RESULT OF DEPUTATION DISAPPOINTING”

The club has forwarded to the Post-master-General (the Hon. A. Hamilton) a copy of the Hon. Mr Bitelierier’s reply, also of the club’s letter to the Broadcasting Board. A covering letter to the Minister states:

“The result of our deputation has proved most disappointing, for we were expecting from the tenor of your remarks that something would be’clone for Nelson.

- “We have apparently appealed to the Broadcasting Board in vain, and we now lake our case to you, as a Minister of tlie Crown, the highest court at our disposal. You will remember that some time ago you, on behalf of the Government, purchased IZR and 2ZW, stating that the Government felt they were under some moral obligation to these stations who had rendered yeoman service at a time when the board was in its infancy, and not in a position to render efficient coverage. Surely the Government will aprpeciate the case of 2ZR, which is rendering an efficient service to a district which the Broadcasting Board admits is in receipt- of art indifferent coverage. Me have not waited for the board or the Government to do anything for us. We have possessed sufficient initiative to install an up-to-date station, and we are now requesting that the Government assist us to maintain this excellent service until such time as the Broadcasting Board realises its obligation to this poorly served district. The executive sincerely trusts that you will bo able to see your way clear to grant our not unreasonable request.”