RADIO STATION FOR TIMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 5

RADIO STATION FOR TIMARU

To the Editor ot " The Timaru Herald.” Sir,—As a Radio Club member conversant with the activities of the club may I correct some impressions formed by the attitude of your correspondent, R. W. Anderson. This gentleman’s first letter to the club was written from Dunedin, where lie had been discussing with Mr Barnett, the proprietor of 4ZO, the possibility of having a Dunedin B station license transferred to Timaru. At about the same time two members of the club holidaying in Dunedin were approached on the same subject, but were requested not to mention the name of 4ZO. In his letter Mr Anderson stated he intended going out for a station in Timaru and asked for the assistance of tile club, as he considered an organisation would create a better impression than an individual. As Mr Anderson was unable to attend a club meeting two members—who most certainly do not represent the club’s feelings—visited him and discussed the subject, informing him of the club’s policy, and, I understand the president—who was one of the members —stated the club would definitely not oppose any movement of his to obtain a station for Timaru but would not assist him. Almost through your columns he accused the executive of the club —whom he had never met—of being DXers, and at a later date endeavours to ridicule the club’s statement of ■ policy and reason for same. Will Mr Anderson deny that in one letter Mr ; Barnett stated he would not sell or ■ transfer 4ZO as it was all he had to ■ live for, but that he would operate in ’ Timaru a station of 250 watts output, - on the condition only, that he received ' a subsidy of £5O per week—£4o of which 1 would be used for hire of plant and ■ wages of five including a typiste—and 1 in a later letter, mentions that 4ZO's ■ plant could be increased to 250 watts 1 by the addition of a power stage and so ’ give complete coverage to South Can- ■ terbury listeners. This inconsistency 1 on the part of Mr Barnett must be very ' disappointing to Mr Anderson. But, > even so, has Mr Anderson given any 1 reasons for his sudden interest in a

local station? He has never been to any of the meetings convened by the club. Any local listener will state he wants a local station, but that is because he is dissatisfied with the present service. Surely now we have enough church, wrestling and football relays, even if the associations would consider relaying these in Timaru. The writer considers that a Government station

operating in Timaru for a period each day long enough to give a definite alternative programme would be an advantage and would overcome all the [ difficulties of noise and hetrodynes in spite of the explanations of Timaru Radio Club, but has the listener considered that—as stated at a recent club meeting—Timaru has the highest average priced set of any town of its size in New Zealand. This means Timaru sets are good ones. If a local station started here consider the number of one and two valve sets that would come into operation. It would only be after we have listened to our local for a short time that we would find the tremendous ■ amount of background noise, squealing, ; etc., that would be caused by these “one ; lungers” trying to get outside stations. I It would also be found that the local ■ would be so broad in tuning we would i i have difficulty receiving even the YA , programmes—and we would be tied s to Timaru. If a B station with its i limited hours on the air, were to be 1 transferred here we would be in a still • worse position. i In conclusion may I mention that the ■ statement of i member of any organi--1 sation of this town, that the public of i Timaru are too slow and apathetic to f be interested in any action for its weli fare has been gained by bitter experi-

ence and that any action taken by anyone will meet with neither praise nor censure.—l am, etc., ENTERTAINMENT. Timaru, July 14.