BROADCASTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 10

BROADCASTING

SHOULD BE BETTER

EFFORT FOR IMPROVEMENT

MINISTER'S OPINION

It- is the opinion, I think, of the majority of people in New Zealand ■who are interested in broadcasting that we should be getting something better than we are getting at present in the broadcasting service, and it is my intention to see if a better state of affairs can be brought about.

This statement was made in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the Postmaster-General (the1 Hon. J. B. Donald), replying to general discussion on the broadcasting service when the Post and Telegraph Department Estimates were under consideration.

Mr. J. A. Nash (Eeform, Palnierston North') asked what the Government was doing to assist the B class stations. It was stated that the Government had enteredinto 'an arrangement with the Copyright Association for the purpose of protecting the New Zealand Broadcasting Company. There was quite a large number of second grade stations in the Dominion, and new ones were constantly opening up. They were not welcomed by the Broadcasting Company. It it was possible to put them off the air, the Broadcasting Company would do so. The Copyright Association was demanding -Id for every copyrighted item which was broadcast, and as the B. class stations had no income the charge inflicted great hardship. All they had to rely on was a 5s annual subscription from listeners-in, and unless they were given some protection they would- be obliged to close down. •"The time has come," said Mr. Nash, 'when the ■ Government should take gome stand in endeavouring to help tJie second grade stations." ASSISTING THE "BOOKIE"? The Rev. C. Carr (Labour, Tiinaru) 3eclared that the listening-in licence foe was the highest in the world, and fMat the service was the worst in the vrorld. That opinion was current, and personally he thought the programmes could hardly be worse. The second-class stations were on the air longer than the YA stations, and yet they were mot. permitted to earn any revenue. She Postmaster-General had stated that the Government was making provision for iljhe B class stations, and the speaker asked the. Minister if he would announce his intentions in the matter. 'Jhe-B class stations wanted permission to broadcast sponsored programmes, but there was no question "of advertising. .Was- it correct, as stated, Mr. Carr asked, that the bookmakers subsidised the Broadcasting Company for broadcasting racing results? •.-Mr: E. A. Wright (Eeform, "Wellington Suburbs) asked if there was truth in the statement that a large corporation was endeavouring to buy out the Broadcasting Company. Could that be done? he asked. He said he would not like to see the American broadcasting interests take control of the air in Kew Zealand. AN. OUTRAGEOUS CHARGE. The Postmaster-General said he un'fierstood that the Copyright Association, wished to charge 4d for each side of a ;■; broadcast gramophone record. "That appears to me to be outrageous," lie; said, "and so far as I am concerned, if it is possible for the Government to do anything to stop that, members can rest assured I will be_only too pleased to do it." He said he had not heard anything about the Broadcasting Company being taken over by an American company. Personally he did not think there was any truth in the suggestion, because the licence of the Broadcasting Company did not run out until Janu.ary, 1932. '-Mr. Carr: "There is not much to buy." : . ' ."No, there is not very much to buy," the Minister agreed. ' "The Americans are pretty good business men, and I don't think they would buy under present" conditions." .

A voice: "2YA have the1 riglit of repewal.". ■ Mr. Donald: "No, they have no right '#£ renewal." Mi1. Nash: "Does the Minister approve of the B grade stations?" "Most assuredly," the Minister replied. They could not.lose sight of the fact, he said, that the E grade stations were inaugurated at a time ■when no one else -would undertake the work. There was no reason -why the listenersin"should not Wgetting a better service than thoy were getting, and it would be a good thing if an improvement could be brought about. It would not be fair to ask him what was being done in that direction, for the matter •was only just being considered. "I do realise," he repeated, "that wo want something better than we have got at present." ' Colonel T. "W. M'Donald (United, Waijrarapa): "Nationalise it." THE NEW KEGULATIONS. "I believe there is room for B grade Stations as well as the major stations," said Mr. Donald. "They serve a quite good purpose in the community, and their interests will be conserved in the new regulations which I hope will be brought into force, along with the interests of the major stations." Replying to another question, the Postmaster-General said he was sure the people of New Zealand did not want to hear advertising on the air. There was plenty of advertising' in the aewspapers and in other ways. Mr. Carr: "We are not asking for it." Mr. Donald said that the Department had been asked, to allow adver.tising, but it had turned it down. Mr. Nash: "Quito right." ■ "We will have to be very careful as to what we allow ou the air, even in the matter of sxjonsorcd programmes," the Minister declared. "I believe that when the new scheme is properly "worked out the people or" New Zealand will be very well satisfied with it." Mr. Carr: "Can you give any idea when it is likely to eventuate?" . Mr. Donald said it would take a few •weeks; it would take a little time to •work it out. It certainly ought to be ready by the time Parliament met nest year. Probably something would be done long before then. Mr. D. Q. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) asked if tho B stations were going to be allowed to collect revenue. ■ The Postmaster-General: "We are going to try and make some provision , so. that, they can exist."