“THE FRIENDLY ROAD”

Waipa Post, Volume 52, Issue 3705, 10 January 1936, Page 6

“THE FRIENDLY ROAD”

WHEN 1 ZB WAS INTERFERED WITH. DEPARTMENT’S DELIBERATE ACTION. Ever since the “jamming * of the 1 ZB radio station at Auckland three days before the General Elections, there has been a keen public interest in the steps that would be taken to investigate and sheet home the blame for an action that caused a good deal ot public indignation —in fact, it has been claimed that the incident affected many hundreds oi votes at the election. Now comes the following announcement by the Postmaster General, the Hon. F. Jones, at Wellington yesterday:— “As a result of the investigations that have been made by the Government it has been established that the ‘jamming’ of the radio station IZB, Auckland, known popularly as the 'Friendly Road,’ just prior to the general election, was done under instructions issued by responsible authorities witli the consent of the then Postmaster General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, to the taking of the steps that were adopted to put the station oft the air on that occasion.” At the time of the incident, which happened on Sunday, November 24, the reception from this station was mutilated by an exceedingly powerful transmitter operated on the station’s wave length. The interference, it was reported at the time, was concentrated on a period during which the director, the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, was addressing listeners in the course of the usual Sunday evening session. Allegations were made that the jamming was done deliberately, but these were denied at the time.

REASONS FOR STOPPAGE. RESPONSIBILITY ACCEPTED BY EX-MINISTER. When the message from Wellington containing the statement by the Hon. F. Jones regarding the "jamming" of IZB, Auckland, was referred to Mr Adam Hamilton, former Postmaster General, at Invercargill, he discounted tlie suggestion that there was anything very sensational about the disclosure. He said that to understand the “Jamming” incident it was necessary to review the conditions under which tire license was granted to the Friendly Road station. A special license was issued to the Friendly Road in response to a large petition that the service should be continued after IZR—on which station the service was previously conducted —was closed. The license was d.fferent from tire ordinary B station licenses as it was for a special service. There had been many applications of somewhat similar nature to obtain a license, but all had been refused.

Questioned regarding the station itself, Mr Hamilton said that for some considerable time the Friendly Road service was giving trouble, and was almost defying the authorities. Instructions were given that if the service offended too much it was to be stopped.

“Evidently on the occasion now in question the service was being used—as it was often being used—for clever propaganda of a semi-political nature,” Mr Hamilton continued. “I am sure that if the service had been used to boost the Government—as it was being used in the opposite direction —there would have been a terrible hue and cry from the Opposition.” Mr Hamilton said he accepted whatever responsibility there might be for tlie action that was taken in preventing IZB from broadcasting prior to tlie general election. He characterised the station management's attitude, in return for the granting of the special license, as one of sheer ingratitude.

It was not long after IZB were permitted to erect a fairly powerful station with a good many hours a week on the air that they became fairly troublesome, he said. This action of the authorities conducting the Friendly Road service was an excellent example pi a privilege granted being used against those who granted it. In conclusion, Mr Hamilton said that the broadcasting policy of New Zealand was moulded on the British system, which was generally admitted to be the best in the world. Both America and Australia had adoptad a semi-commercial policy and a private broadcasting station in either of those countries was consequently a very lucrative business. In his opinion New Zealand would be wise to follow Great Britain and develop the national service in preference to a commercial one.