SOUTHLAND RADIO CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 21853, 2 November 1932, Page 3

SOUTHLAND RADIO CLUB

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Radio Club was held on Monday evening, when the following were present: Messrs A. W. Jones (in the chair), J. Pickard, McEwen, W. R. Mabson, T. H. Watson, A. R. Fraser, A. Jordan and C. A. Lockhart. The secretary reported that the membership now totalled 850. The organizer had resigned his position owing to leaving New Zealand. The secretary also reported that he had sent out 500 further circulars and was hoping that the membership would be well over 1000 before the end of this month. Appreciative correspondence was received from a number of listeners from all parts of Southland in connection with the relay of Szigeti’s concert and the old-time dance. It was decided to broadcast a similar dance at an early date. It was reported that Mr Alsweiler had arranged with Mr Pettit to broadcast a concert by local artists from the Orphans’ Club rooms in about a week’s time. It was decided to broadcast the two concerts of the Male Choir at present touring New Zealand, and with which the Broadcasting Board had arranged to give two concerts on November 6 and 13. Messrs J. Pickard and T. H. Watson were appointed the visiting committee to the station during the month of November. Messrs C. A. Lockhart and A. Jordan, together with Mr Parsons, were appointed a committee to investigate the trouble appearing in the land line from the Civic Theatre and to take steps to have it remedied. Endeavours have been made for some time to improve the reception from the theatre and the committee was authorized to have this matter attended to. Messrs A. Jordan and A. R. Fraser reported as follows in connection with the tram interference problem: “In continuation of our inquiries regarding the possibility of reducing tram interference as it relates to radio reception, we interviewed Mr Carman, of the local Tramways Department, from whom we received a sympathetic hearing, and a very helpful discussion ensued. One very serious interfering centre is the trolley and wheels, where ‘contact arcing’ due to the varying contact of these parts can assume serious dimensions. From our investigations it appears that little can be done to remedy interference from these centres, so our attention was directed to the motors, and associate equipment. The fitting of suitable condensors would undoubtedly minimize interference from this source, but here again is the principal difficulty—the matter of finance. Mr Carman stated that while he would be prepared to co-operate with this club in the fitting of any experimental apparatus, it was most unlikely that we could look for financial support from the council, particularly at the present time, as the Tramway Department was showing a very heavy loss. From the data available it is evident that the reduction of noise interference could not exceed 50 per cent, approximately. Since no other tram system to our knowledge has been so equipped, it is indeed difficult to arrive at approximate costs. Our direct questions in this direction in all cases elicited but little of value to us. In conclusion we believe that the problem is as yet of an experimental nature, and we would be well advised to await development of a proved system.” With reference to the communication from the Radio Listeners’ League asking the Southland Radio Club to send a delegate to Wellington, it was decided to take no action.