A Big Day

For Tonga

July 4, 1961, was celebrated in

the Kingdom of Tonga by the

booming of guns, and a parade of white-clad Palace guards and band on the green adjoining the Royal Palace of Queen Salote.

BUT it wasn’t an American Inde pendence Day celebration. It was the birthday of Prince Tungi, Premier of Tonga. The day was also con sidered an appropriate occasion for the opening of the Kingdom’s new broadcasting service and the Tonga Copra Board and Tonga Construction Company’s new establishments at Haveluloto, a short distance from Nukualofa, the capital, Fiji was represented at the cere monies by Mr. P. D. MacDonald, Acting Governor of Fiji. Also in the official party who were flown to Nukualofa by RNZAF Sunderland flying-boat, were Ratu E. T. Cakobau, and Group Captain J. D. Robins, Officer Commanding the RNZAF Station at Fiji’s Laucala Bay.

For the Queen In an audience with Queen Salote Mr MacDonald, who is also United Kingdom Acting Chief Commissioner for Tonga, presented her with an album of records as a gift to the new broadcasting service from the Colonial ° The new studio for the Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s station ZCO was opened by the Queen after short speeches had been given by Mr.

MacDonald and the Premier, who is Chairman of the Commission. Queen Salote spoke in Tongan.

Station ZCO —“The Call o Friendly Islands”—operates on 1020 kilocycles with an aerial power of 10 kilowatts, and has a wide reception in the South Pacific area. It is staffed by New Zealanders and Tongans. The manager, Mr. Geoffrey Haggett, is

INSIDE AND OUT. At left is the new head quarters of the Tonga Copra Board and the Tonga Construction Company. The main offices are in the foreground, and at rear, left, can be seen the staff quarters. In the photo below it, guests at the official opening enjoy hospitality in the spacious general office. Call sign for Tonga's new broadcasting station, also officially opened in July, is ZCO, the "Call of the Friendly Islands". Chief announcer 'Uliti Palu is at the microphone, and a section of the main studio can be seen in the background.

Photos: Rob Wright

frcm the NZ Broadcasting Service.

The station engineer, Mr. Chapman, programme director, Mr. MacDonald, and Radio Technician Ashley Keith, are also New Zealanders.

The Chief Announcer, ’Uliti Palu, was formerly Tongan Government Interpreter. Assistant technicians, programme officers, announcers, and office staff are Tongans.

Station ZCO had been operating for several months before the official opening, giving a two hourly pro gramme each evening.

In speaking at the opening, Mr.

MacDonald said, “Geography has made Tonga and Fiji neighbours, history has made us friends, wars past and present have made us allies and broadcasting I hope will strengthen these ties”.

Queen Salote said the new station would create better understanding between Tongans themselves and also help their education. It would im prove communications with the out side world “beyond all expectations”.

New broadcasting hours are 1800- 2000 GMT (breakfast session) and 0600-0900 GMT (evening pro gramme).

After a tour of inspection of the studio, the official parties left for Haveluloto to attend the opening by the Queen of the new headquarters of the Tongan Copra Board and Tonga Construction Company. After the doors had opened, 300 visitors and guests streamed in for their own inspection tour.

The Tonga Copra Board has now incorporated with it the Tonga Con struction Company, and the new

premises at Haveluloto were built by this subsidiary.

There are office buildings, staff houses, bulk stores, joinery and fitting shops, garages and engineering works.

The Tonga Copra Board and Tonga Construction Company are almost self-contained. They operate the MV Aoniu, which runs a regular service between Tonga and Fiji, and a num ber of smaller craft. There are also heavy equipment, installations, etc.

The succesful planning and operat ing of these enterprises is due to the efforts of its indefatigable and popular manager, Mr. Stan H. Brown.

Queen Salote, in the top photo, arrives by car at the studios of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission for the official opening in July.

Crown Prince Tungi, Tonga's Premier, is chair man of the Commission. Below, Prince Tuipelehake, second son of Queen Salote, speaks with Mr. P. D. MacDonald, Acting Governor of Fiji, during the festivities of July 4.

Photos: Rob Wright