ORDERED OFF THE AIR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19511, 9 June 1933, Page 7

ORDERED OFF THE AIR

AUCKLAND B STATION CLOSED. BREACH OF REGULATIONS ALLEGED. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 8. The B class radio station IZR, owned by Lewis Eady Ltd. closed down indefinitely to-night, its license having been suspended by the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. A. Hamilton). In a letter received by the proprietors, the Minister ordered that transmission should cease forthwith, “in view of breaches of the regulations concerning sponsored programmes.” The instructions came as a bombshell. The Acting Prime Minister and the Postmaster-General were hurriedly communicated with, but no relaxation of the instructions was made. In his reply, Mr Coates said he had referred the matter to the PostmasterGeneraL The announcement of closing down was first made to listeners shortly after 9 o’clock to-night by the secretary to the proprietors. “Unfortunately, the Post and Telegraph Department has taken exception to certain matters of procedure which we, in all sincerity, believe to be within the regulations,” said the secretary. “We are somewhat astounded to receive sudden notice that our transmission must cease forthwith. We have no alternative but to reluctantly comply with these instructions under protest, and to close down.”

“The executive of the IZR, club considers the Minister’s action drastic and unwarranted,” said another speaker. Active steps would be taken to have the injustice rectified, as the listeners' executive believed that the action taken imperilled the privileges of listeners and the existence of B stations. If the club’s representations to the Acting Prime Minister failed, an announcement would be made in the Press as to what steps would be taken to preserve the rights of all listeners. A meeting of the executive of the Club, which has a membership cf nearly 4,000. was held to consider the position.