WHY NOT?

Southland Times, Issue 20609, 6 October 1928, Page 8

WHY NOT?

BROADCASTING STATION

GREAT BENEFIT TO INVERCARGILL CRYSTAL SETS THEN POSSIBLE The great benefits that would accrue from the establishment of a broadcasting station at Invercargill were stressed to a Times reporter yesterday by a local radio enthusiast. “There are now over 600 receiving licenses in Southland,” he remarked, “and a broadcasting station in Invercargill would be a boon to them. But a still greater boon would it prove to hundreds of people of smaller means and many more hundreds of children who could then go in for a crystal set at a cost of less than a pound. In fact I have been informed that Christchurch youngsters are making their own crystal sets for a few shillings. Once a broadcasting station were established here the wonders of radio would be available for almost everyone who was interested. At present it is a somewhat expensive luxury. I realize that two attempts have been made before to get a station here working satisfactorily, but without success. I think I am correct in saying, however, that there were vastly fewer licensed receivers in Southland then than there are to-day. I don’t think there would be much chance of getting the Government to find a big sum to establish a station here, but it would be up to the Government to render what assistance it could to the project for it would benefit considerably financially were there a station here as the big increase in licenses would give the Government a considerable sum in royalties.

“I think that a 10 watt station would give satisfactory service and I should say that it could be fitted up for somewhere about £2OO, though I have not gone into detailed figures. From the 600 odd listen-ers-in in Southland I feel sure enough money would be subscribed to establish the station and no doubt some of our enterprising business men would donate something to such a good cause, for it would be immensely to the benefit of the province to have a broadcasting station here. Listen-ers-in could be sure of getting good and varied entertainment. Arrangements could easily be made to relay the Civic and Majestic orchestras; concert parties could easily be procured; while a land line from Dunedin would ensure excellent reception of anything from the studio there. We have any amount of sporting enthusiasts here to give talks on various games and business men might well avail themselves of a chance for advertising propaganda—for a consideration, of course. These are only some of the facts that present themselves to me. What actuates me most in making my suggestion is the great chance our youngsters will have for enjoying radio if only a broadcasting station can commence operations here.”