2YB, NEW PLYMOUTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 10

2YB, NEW PLYMOUTH.

BROADCASTING STATION OPENED. (Pen Uneted Press Association.! NEW PLYMOUTH, April 28. . The broadcasting station 2YB, New Plymouth, whs officially opened last night Its success may be judged from the fact that the general manager of tin Broadcasting Company reported from Sumner, Christchurch, that he had had a perfect reception thetre. During the ceremony Mr John Ball, on behalf of the Broadcasting Company, truado an announcement which Mr E. Payne, president of the North Taranaki Radio Society, characterised as marking an-important milestone in the history of ryidio in New Zealand. Mr Ball said that 2YB was not intended as a full broadcast service, but rather to fill a gap until such time as something better was available. The greatly desired development was, he believed, ir the lap of the very near future. Th" general manager of the company had visioned a national broadcast system in which thertwould be in the chief provincial centres throughout fjhe Dominion a cht’n of efficient relay aitations linked up with the four main stations. It was to be a veritable model of completeness and efficiency. The general manager had already sub mitted for Hie consideration of the Gov eminent an outline of the whole scheme Mr Ball atsked listeners to visualise a scheme of efficient stations at Napier, Hastings, Nelson, Greymonth, Timarn Invercargill, Hamilton. New Plymouth Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Gisborne. All these stations would be con nccted by land lines, so that all would be in touch regardless of atmospheric cundi tions. Th<! company’s‘.policy was not limited to (Jhe technical side, but it intended to work for an improvement of the programmes, and beyond these was d great field off national service of inostim able value Vo the community. It had been proved that the broadcasting of scientific instruction had enormously increased prinjary .production in other countries, One of the most eminent author! ties in the Dominion (Dr Ohilton) was at present engaged in investigating the. possibilities ‘of such a service.