BROADCASTING POLICY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 124, 7 March 1935, Page 6

BROADCASTING POLICY

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. POWERS OF NEW BOARD. DEFENDED BY MINISTER. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 6. -The second reading of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was moved in the House to-night by the Hon. Adam Hamilton, who said the present Broadcasting Board had been in existence three years. The Board’s advisory council had done good work during its existence. There had been objections but there were many technical difficulties. In the present Bill the advisory council was being abolished. The Board had to blaze the trail for broadcasting in New Zealand, and broadcasting had been increasing 1 largely m recent years 'Since 1930 the number of listeners had risen from 53,000 to 194,000 at the end of January, 1935. The policy ohe Government was endeavouring to follow was the policy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. They had not been able to follow it fully as there were a number of B stations in New Zealand, whereas there were no B stations in England. The second way of following Britain was to provide a national service in New Zealand. All the listeners’ fees would go to the Board which was still in debt to the Post and Telegraph Department, but was paying off its debt steadily. Provision would he made for the discussion of political subjects over the air. The Board would also be responsible for what went over the air and not the P. and T. Department as previously. New Zealand could not follow Britain as regards B stations, but B stations would receive no revenue. Their licenses, however, would not be taken away. The Board would be increased from three to seven. The control of controversial matter would be placed in the hands of the Board. The Board could still subsidise B stations if it wished, but their hours and strength could not be increased.

Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) said the Bill would mean the end of the B stations. He thought that they were following England too lavishly as New Zealand conditions were very different. If a6O kilowatt station was to be established near Wellington no set in New Zealand would be able to receive outside stations until it was off the air. He urged that the dying board should not be permitted to enter into a contract to erect such a large station when the new board might review the whole position He thought that there was something behind the establishment of such a powerful, station. The weakness of the Bill was that no provision was made for the election of hoard members. He considered that the Minister had no right to appoint the Board. There should be one board for the North Island one another for the South Island as the problems of the two Islands were totally different. The Bill did, however, make an improvement on the old service.

The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 11.25 p.m.