Down memory Lane in Wellington, New Zealand.
Arthur McLay, 85, of Wellington gives an in-depth account of the history of 2YK Wellington and early radio telegraph communications. McLay was a veteran radio ham and he recalls his work as listener to wireless telegraphy before WWI and setting up station 2YK, Wellington in the early 1920s. He covers the period from 1911 to 1925 and recorded this talk in 1982.
Part 1: McLay describes his early life in Wellington and being enthralled by examples of wireless communication, but hindered in his study of because it was illegal to possess radio transmitting equipment. He recalls meeting Brian Robinson, an electrician and wireless transmitter enthusiast who introduced him to a wireless telegraph officer aboard the SS Ulimaroa who gave McLay his own transmitter. In 1912 he met Guy Tinney, who worked as a Morse code land line telegraphist, and Brian Robinson. They all developed an interest in wireless radio transmission. They once used their transmitters to pick up the signal of ship’s distress signal and helped bring the ship to safety. Despite their illegal use of private wireless receivers, they were not penalised but were issued with licenses to legally use their own transmitters. All three men enlisted for service in World War I and are commemorated in a cup presented to members of the New Zealand Radio DX League of Invercargill.
Part 2: McLay recalls enlisting for army service in 1917. After being rejected by the telegraphy division, he trained in the medical corps on the ship Morama near Dunedin, facing risk of infection and German naval attacks. After contracting a lung infection, McLay was sent to recover at the New Zealand general hospital at Walton-on-Thames. There he began reading about recent advancements in wireless telecommunications. Knowing the service this could provide for New Zealand, he resolved to establish a nation-wide radio communications service. With Government finances committed elsewhere, it fell to Wellington’s Post and Telegraph Department to raise capital and draw up a 10 year term, requiring all listeners to have a license McLay would maintain it at his own expense. Over three years he, technician Bob Appley, and electrician Hugh Simpson united, spending their time and resources to establish a national broadcasting service that was assigned the call-sign 2YK and commenced operation in July 1922. McLay clarifies myths around people who did and didn’t assist in the station’s creation, including an American electric company.
Part 3: 2YK began operating from a small room in Newtown and received assistance from local retailers, like the Talkeries who provided music records. Trained elocutionist Clive Drummond was employed as chief announcer and became very popular with listeners. McLay recalls several requests from groups who asked to use their broadcasting services to publicise and event or brand. First, they were invited to broadcast the results of the 1922 general election, allowing MPs to listen in, a first for many of them. 2YK also provided music at a broadcast concert outside James Smiths department store and for dancing and singing on a ship as part of a Wellington harbour cruise hosted by a Presbyterian Bible class. McLay recounts seeking public funding in 1922. He invited businessmen from Wellington to a meeting to promote the station and request funds but one man denounced it as an unsafe, putting off other investors. A lack of public funding forced 2YK to close, but the broadcasting rights were given to Gordon Harcourt’s Dominion Radio Company Ltd. McLay, Apply and Simpson never received compensation but their costly efforts brought New Zealand radio broadcasting to the fore, a legacy for which McLay is sure they will be remembered.
4: This section repeats part 3, beginning from McLay’s narration of the establishment of Dominion Radio Company.