Tulloch, R. G.

First Radio “Pirate” To Retire

Press, 8 June 1967

A New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation engineer recalled yesterday that he and an announcer sat on top of haystacks outside the Riccarton and Addington racecourses to broadcast races in the late 19205.

“We were the first pirate broadcasters In New Zealand,” said Mr R. G. Tulloch, who will retire at the end of the month after 40 years’ service —the first engineer in New Zealand with so long a service with the corporation.

“The racing clubs would not have us near the courses in the eary days of broadcasting. They must have realised that we were relaying information to people who were dealing with illegal bookmakers,” he said.

“The Post Office supplied a direct line to the pole nearest our haystack. Alan Allardyce was the sports commentator—the first sports commentator in New Zealand—and he used to pick up the horses through a powerful binocular. Sometimes he could hardly see them.

“We also did football broadcasts from the top of the old members’ stand at Lancaster Park.

“At home people would have their ears glued to their crystal set earphones or the first battery sets.

Restrictions

“But even they had their troubles. Before anyone could get a radio-receiver licence he had to draw a diagram of the circuit and have it signed by a justice or a solicitor. People had to sign a statement saying they would not divulge anything broadcast which was not intended for their ears.”

Mr Tulloch began his career in broadcasting as a relay boy in December, 1926, as an employee of the Radio Broadcasting Company, which had just started Station 3YA under contract to the Government

“In those days we would pile all our gear on to a tram, and then lug it to wherever we wanted to broadeast from. Ambrose Harris, the general manager, then bought an electric car from the United States. This was called ‘Ohio,’ but was also known as ‘O.H. 10’”

Mr Tulloch was transferred in 1927 to Wellington, where he helped to build a highpowered five-kilowatt station at Mount Victoria for Station 2YA. This was the first highpowered station in New Zealand using water-cooled valves. The station was powerful enough to be picked up by listeners in Australia and the United States, and in all parts of New Zealand.

“One reason for this powerful station, which was then 10 times as powerful as any other in the country, was to fill the ‘silent day’,” Mr Tulloch said. “That was the one day of the week when each station was off the air to give the staff a break.

3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“There were no breakfast sessions then. The radio came on at 3 p m. and went off at 10 p.m. The announcers had to keep their wits about them, too. There were no pickups into the microphone. Music was played on a windup gramophone, and the sound-box was placed close to the microphone. Many a time the announcer forgot to wind up the gramophone, and the inevitable confusion would follow.”

Mr Tulloch then came back to Christchurch and helped to build the 500-watt transmitter for Station 4YA Dunedin, which was housed on top of the “Evening Star” building.

He was transferred back to Wellington In 1937 in time for the construction of the 60 kilowatt transmitter which was built for 2YA at Titahi Bay.

“At that time it was the most powerful transmitter in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said, “I was there for nine years until the then chief engineer, Mr J. R. Smith, called for applications for engineers in the four main centres. I was appointed to Christchurch, and have been here ever since.”

1931 Take-over

Mr Tulloch saw all the developments of radio In New Zealand and the emergence oi the N.Z.B.C. over the years as a substantial money earner for the Government, which terminated the contract of the Radio Broadcasting Company in 1931 and took over all its assets.

He has also worked closely with many people whose names became known in every household in the country. Among these was the late “Aunt Daisy," who began her record career as compere of the 2YA children’s session before 1930.

Mr Tulloch was later appointed district engineer and then to his present position, which makes him responsible for radio engineering in Blenheim, Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, Kumara, and Timaru.

He has been directly responsible for the starting of transmission from 3XC, Timaru (the first XC station in New Zealand), 3ZR Greymouth, 3YZ Kumara, and 3YW Westport.

Coming Of TV

His biggest commitment in recent years was the establishment of television in Christchurch.

“For this we have a great debt of gratitude to a university lecturer, Mr Bernie Withers, who helped us no end in the theoretical and practical sides of television,” Mr Tulloch said. “We had to work a lot of this out for ourselves from books. There was no training at first, but specialists have since been sent overseas to get first-hand information.”

Mr Tulloch foresees the day when New Zealand will be linked to the rest of the world by space satellites which will relay television signals from anywhere in the world.

“It is a long way off because of the enormous cost, but it will come,” he said.