Islands Radio

Special Broadcast From Townsville

THE need for making wireless broad casting benefits available to residents of the Pacific territories was brought be fore the meeting of Pacific Administra tors in Canberra in March by the Minis ter-in-Charge of Island Territories.

Major Marr said that he regarded the matter as of first class importance. The possibility of utilising the Townsville broadcasting station as a means of dis tributing entertainment and news to Pa cific Islands residents was being explored by the Australian postal department. The department was examining not only the cost of increasing the transmitting power of the station and the value of the programme but also was enquiring into the whole question of reception in the Islands. It was hoped to evolve a prac ticable scheme.

This announcement will be welcomed by residents throughout the south and central Pacific. A large proportion of Pacific Islands residents already have purchased expensive receiving sets with a view of keeping in touch with Austra lia and New Zealand, but during a con siderable portion of the year their pur pose is defeated by exceptional static. It is believed that Townsville is so situated that it will give practically continuous service to Papua, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, and New Cale donia; and if general conditions are satis factory it is likely that Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will also participate.