RADIO BROADCASTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 26 November 1935, Page 6

RADIO BROADCASTING

RECEPTION MUTILATED INCIDENT AT AUCKLAND j POWERFUL TRANSMITTER USED. 1 I’e; 1’ c.j Ajiociaiion. ] A I CELAND, Nov. 23. Theie wa- a sensational development in connection with radio broadcasting last evening, v.neii reception from .Station I ZB, Friendlj Road, was hope kssly mutilate*! by an exceedingly powertul transmitter operating on the station’s wavelength. The interference was concentrated on the period in which the director, the Rev. t , G. Scrimgeour. was addressing listeners in the course of his usual Sunday even ting session. | I lie Rev. Scrimgeour htvl received | anonymous letters and one telephone 'message warning him hr need not expert his message to reach listeners. Subsequently the Rev. Scrimgeour was [ir.formed that hr was in personal dan|ger, and police accompanied him from .the studio to his home at Kohimarama. /There was no attempt at molestation, laud this morning Mr. Scrimgeour declared his determination to repeat the fbioadcast tonight, if permitted. He |has received hundreds of sympathetic •messages from many part.-; of the DoI 'minion. Mr. Scrimgeour said an attempt would be made to-night tu locate the disturbance, it' repealed, by means •of a direction finding apparatus. “By Itv night we expect the radio depart|ment of the Bust and Telegraph Dr partment to a«-t. That is their job.'’ he said, adding Im- was also obtaining I the assistance of independent radio experts. Listeners said in interviews that no pooner had Mr. Scrimgeour commenced hi> address, mekiug fivourable referciu es both to the Hon. .1. Coates land .Mr. Sa age. than it seemed as .though Satanic forces had tuned in on ‘ihe station, and pandemonium reigned the address. Behind all ;could be heard faintly the speaker’s i \ oice. but it was impossible to follow *lhe speech. When ihe address ended ’he inieriuptivu ceased as if bv I ’ • U«- iegard it, ' said Mr. fd.-rim-i2e-«ur ibis ‘-'a* a most glaring I example of the extent to which some Ipeuple will go to muzzle free speech.” He said he had a great number of let .lets ar •! anonymous messages fro n lp'»liti.-ai partisans, who imagined he I had beei. opposing their interests. He | wan merly gi\iug one of his routine ! Sunday evening talks to “the man in the street.” and wherevei he touched upon politics it was merely in the ! broadest sense. He certainly was not ntaking eferente to the partx a s| t. 11 t;t appealed to people tu put aside i personalities ami exercise that sound • >*» n on that was characterist!••

SOLRLE OF INTERRUPTIONS EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATIONS ' I’e I’xe.is Iseuc.al on. 1 \C‘ ELAND. Nux. Mr. G. 11. Robin’. Government radio i inspector, states that the department i is making an exhaustive investigation ■a* to the soir-e of the interruptions. ' M - G. P. 1 inlay, chairman of the • executive o: rhe National Political i i-cd'-rntion, ’aid that his organisation Idi.’claimvd all knowledge of the source ’of interfeiei.ee. ’’Our organisation (stands for principles and ideals too high to allow uf resort tu any such pra•••rices.” he declared. Mr. Coates, interviewed, said: The occurrence is entirely tu be regretted. Anv suggestion that the Government was in any way responsible for the interferes e was without foundation. Neither the Government nor the Post Uflice. nor the Broadcasting Board had rhe slightest connection with tin* occurrence, nor any knowledge of it. “The interference waf either a childish ’rag' or an unscrupulous attempt to make .political capital by throwing suspie'on on the Government. I have already warned the public against Ifc’t-miLUtt tritkcrv. ,, yj r .

Coates added that, in view of the unfortunate occurrence, arrangements, were being made to enable the Rev. Scrimgeour to speak over the air to-1 night bo that the programme which i was interfered with may be given. ’ “lor iny part T can only deplore the whole unfortunate happening, and reiterate my personal sympathy with B stations, and desire to give them every reasonable facility. 1 regard B stations as giving useful service to the public, and providing a valuable stimulus to national