BROADCAST OF TEST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 24 July 1934, Page 4

BROADCAST OF TEST.

Penalty Imposed on 3ZM j Station. PROGRAMME CURTAILED. Broadcasting Station 3ZM did not broadcast a relay of tbe Austra iaEngland test cricket last night as it did on Saturdav night and Sunday morning. Permission was refused by the authorities, and, more than that, the station will have to deduct from its regular programme this week the five hours spent from Saturday at midnight till 5 am. on Sunday in relaying to hundreds of intensely interested' listeners the absorbing account of the batting of Bradman and Ponsford. On Saturday night the running account of the play, which has been such a feature for those whose sets have been able to bring in the Australian stations, was relayed by 3ZM, bv arrangement with 2UE, Sydney. The station received hundreds of inquiries as to whether the service would be repeated last evening. There were dozens of congratulatory letters. At 4.30 a.m. on Sunday one enthusiast who lived in the district and had no telephone, actually visited the station to say how pleased he was. and to hand over a subscription to the 3ZM Radio Club. Many other new subscriptions were received by letter. The station, therefore, applied to the Post and Telegraph Department, through the radio inspector, for permission to repeat the service last night. Word was received by telephone from Wellington that no extension of hours could be granted “for such a purpose,” and, furthermore, that the 3ZM station would have to deduct from this week’s programme the extra five hours tha.t it was on the air on Sunday morning. That means that the station will not be on the air at all on-Friday, and that there will be no Saturday morning session, the station remaining silent till Saturday night. And those who cannot get Australia to listen in to the test match will have to go without. “ Should Not Be Penalised.” Last evening the station-director endeavoured to speak to the Post-master-General, at Parliament Buildings, but he was informed that, as no announcement had been made concerning the temporary re-distribution of portfolios in consequence of the illness of the Hon Adam Hamilton, the Postmaster-General was not available for a conversation on the telephone. The station-director stated that he intended to write to the PostmasterGeneral to-daj', protesting against the decision of the department to enforce the regulation regarding limitation of hours. In the special circumstances, and in view of the extraordinary interest in the test match, the PostmasterGeneral is to be asked to reconsider the decision, and to grant permission for the maintenance of the ordinary schedule. “We feel that we should not be penalised for having shown some enterprise in meeting a widespread public demand.” said the stationdirector, in explaining what he proposed to do. “ I feel we can rely upon the good sense of the Minister to appreciate this point of view.”