Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 20 April 1937, page 6


NEW STATION ON THE AIR

I Premier's Recorded Speech Declares

7HT Open

The official opening of 7HT, licensed broadcasting station controlled by Met-ropolitan Broadcasters Limited, took place at the studio in Cleburne building, Murray St., Hobart, last night. The new station was declared open by the Premier (Mr. A. G. Ogilvie. K.C.), who, in a recorded speech, congratulated those responsible for its establishment.

Among the guests who gathered In the studio were the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Wlgnall), the Der-uty-Dlrector of Posts ' ' and Telegraphs (Mr. J. -E. Monfries),

the Director of Programmes at Nation-al station 7KL Hobart (Mr. E. J. Mc,, Cann), the Managing Editor of "The

Mercury" (Mr. «..'. Usher), and the ' Ilanaging Director of Commercial . Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. (M.\ S. H.

Findlay). A messnge of congratulation was received from the PostmnstcrGeneral (Senator McLachlan). The i' Manager of 7HT (Mr. R. C. Thomas)

., was master of ceremonies.

The Premier. In his recorded speech, j congratulated those responsible for the

establishment of the station, and said '" the Government had not hesitated to " use the radio for reaching the people

of Tasmania, not only to present Its ', views on current political affairs', but

also to make important announce

' menta.

'?* "We live in an age, the commonplace ,; activities of which -would have been

regarded as miracles half a generation ago," the Premier continued. "In the field of education, music, and world .affairs, and in tho sphere of social pro-blems and literary achievement, the radio has attained an Important place in which it is, mü.ith by month, becom-ing ever more surely established. To those whose technical skill has brought this vast fund of knowledge and enter-tainment into every home, and to those _, who aro prepared to put their business

"energy and capital Into the setting up of broadcasting stations, we owo a " measure of thanks."

HIGH TRADITIONS.

The Lord Mayor congratulated the .management on its enterprise, and said '] the establishment of the station would

not only give additional employment, but would encourage local talent and bring added entertainment into many

homes.

The Deputy Director of Posts and Telegraphs Bald he felt sure the station would worthily uphold the highest tra-ditions of broadcasting in Tasmania. On behalf of the Postmaster-General's Department, he expressed the wish that the station would meet with every suc-cess. * ,

The Deputy Radio Inspector (Mr. B. J. Bowden) congratulated 7HT on belialf of the wireless branch of the Postmas-ter-General's Department. 7HT, he said, was the fifth licensed station open-ed in Tasmania, and shortly another was to open In Queenstown. Including the two National stations, Tasmania,-with a population of 235,000 persons, would therefore be served by eight stations, representing 20,000 persons to each sta-tion, in comparison, Victoria, with a population of 1,851,000 persons, was served by 23 stations, representing 80,000 persons to each station. Harmonious relation existed between broadcasting stations and the Department.

Tho manager of the Vacuum OH Co. Pty. Ltd. (Mr. J. S. Gulline) also spoke.

After the official opening, the direc- ' tors of 7HT were hosts to the guests of the evening at an Informal supper party at Hadley'a Hotel.