RADIO PROGRAMMES FOR AMERICANS

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 4

RADIO PROGRAMMES FOR AMERICANS

Use Of Auckland Station i ■ (P.A.),. . . AUCKLAND, Apfil 9. To enable American servicemen in New Zealand .to have radio programmes of a type to which they are accustomed in the United '.States, the Government has made arrangements for Station IZM Auckland to be used exclusively as an American Forces’- station. The change will be effective as'from Wednesday, and from then on the station will broadcast programmes which will be a combination of transcriptions flown to New Zealand weekly frorfi Hollywood and of items contributed by Americans on service in the country. - ■ The Minister of Broadcasting, the Hon. D. Wilson, announced the arrangement on Saturday. He said it had been made in Response to requests from file American authorities as a means of concentrating programmes which had hitherto been broadcast from various New Zealand stations. Mr Wilson said the Government had been very happy to place IZM at the Americans’ disposal. Under the arrangement which had been made the 'station would remain under the control of the Government, which would also provide the necessary technical staff, but Americans would be, responsible for the programmes 'and for their _ direction. A staff of experienced radio _ production men attached to the United States armed forces ajid service command in New Zealand would handle the announcing and programmes. Major P. H. Gould, ■of the United States Army Headquarters, services of supply, in file South Pacific area, who is in charge of radio broadcasting services for the American Forces in the South Pacific, has been visiting New' Zealand to further the arrangement He' said on Saturday that the scheme was in general use in various countries in which American Forces were serving, and the programmes in New Zealand would be the veiy latest arranged. The station would be on the air for about eight hours every day in three periods, morning, afternoon and night. Under the arrangement which has been concluded between the Government and the American authorities, Lieutenant-Commander Brooks Gifford, U.S.N.R., has been named as officer in charge of the station.