RADIO FOR TTMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 13

RADIO FOR TTMARU

To the Editor of " The Tlmaru Herald.” Sir,—Mr R. W. Anderson states that he has made it clear to all Interested that his proposal is to request the Government to establish a radio station in Tlmaru, and that 4ZO was mentioned simply owing to the fact that the owner is prepared to transfer that station. Mr Anderson’s first letter to "The Herald” and one to the Radio Club, left a definite impression that he was deeply Interested in the Dunedin man’s proposal, and he is a little disingenious in quoting only a portion of the particulars he received from the latter quarter. He omits to mention that the proprietor of 4ZO requires a subsidy of £5O per week, of which £3O would be absorbed in salaries. After other expenses had been met it is easy to see how much would be left for the provision of programmes, and one is entitled to doubt the assertion that listeners would not be Invited to contribute. Further evidence of Mr Anderson's interest in 4ZO is found in his eulogy of this station, which he says is capable of providing satisfactory coverage for South Canterbury. The power of the plant is 25 watts! I notice that in his itemised ‘‘facts’’ your correspondent makes no attempt to answer the questions regarding output, age of plant and Government valuation put by your radio writer. The Government is pledged to provide a radio service that will give adequate coverage for the whole Dominion, and in Mr Savage’s words to “give the people the Service they pay for.” That plan Includes the erection of four stations in each city, improvement of auxiliaries, better programmes, and, it is hoped, a new allocation of frequencies. Until the effect of this scheme is apparent, it is unfair to harass it with demands for more local stations when its aim is to clear up the air by reducing the number. This policy, it should be observed, is not new, but was initiated during the term of the previous Government. It is true that it was at that time opposed by Labourites, but the fact that the new Government has adopted It is pretty strong evidence that it has something to commend it. One of the reasons advanced by Mr Anderson in favour of the installation here of 4ZO or some other station was that a “local” would provide at least one programme above the noise level. Surely a station costing several thousands per annum to run is an expensive way of overcoming interference. Not long ago a correspondent signing himself “Direct Action" asserted with a show of authority that this could be accomplished by summoning the radio inspection. It seems to me that if more popular programmes were provided by the National stations there would be no need to worry about B’s. I suggest to Mr Anderson that he could render better service to listeners if he devoted his energy to that object rather than wasting it on a hope that is impossible of fulfilment.—l am, etc., HIPOWER. Tlmaru, June 29.