Tahiti Radio Club
p. 57 · Read in the full issue
Efforts to Attract Tourists
From Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, June 5.
THAT the Papeete Radio Club (Radio Club Oceanien) has become something more than a distraction for the local popu lation is evidenced by the number of let ters received from many far-away points such as Cuba, Japan, and the United States. Originally started by a few en thusiasts as a purely local experiment, the Club now has a membership of over 60.
Most of them are very surprised to find that their more or less haphazard pro grammes are being picked up by listeners thousands of miles distant from French Oceania.
It is understood that a much more powerful transmitter has been ordered and will soon be installed. A serious effort is also being made to improve the standard of the items broadcast for lis teners abroad. This question was the subject of discussion by the Tourist Bureau recently when a substantial amount was voted to the funds of the Club and proposals put forward for the proper control of the programmes.
It is now realised that radio can become a powerful agent for popularising Tahiti abitjad, thus resulting eventually in a greater influx of tourists. It is, however, considered essential that the items broad cast for listeners abroad —on special even ings, at least —should be of a true Tahi tian character, American jazz and imita tion Hawaiian melodies being barred from the programmes on such occasions.
In order to bring about this desirable
result it was decided to solicit the co operation of the Societe des Etudes Oceaniennes (which concerns itself with the preservation of the Polynesian culture, including - music) and also to encourage the native performers in the perfection of their music and singing. All this will require time and organisation as well as more funds than are available now, but it is hoped that the Tourist Bureau will be able to contribute a much larger sum next year.
The call letters of the Radio Club Oceanien are FOBAA. Broadcasts are made on Tuesday and Friday evenings, operating on 7.1 megacycles. The presi dent of the organisation is Mr. Alfred Poroi, Mr. Harold Wells, of Messrs. Sargood Gardiner Ltd., will leave Sydney for Papua and New Guinea by the Montoro at the end of July, and return to Aus tralia through the Solomon Islands by the Malaita. For 20 years, Mr. Wells has been handling Sargood Gardiner’s Islands business at the Sydney end, and, as this is his first visit to the Western Pacific groups, he shall be able to meet personally the clients with whom he has been deal ing for so many years.