RADIO POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 8

RADIO POLICY.

FURTHER EXTENSIONS. MINISTER'S STATEMENT ELABORATED. BETTER TECHNICAL CONTROL. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The radio broadcasting, policy to be followed on the termination of the present contract with the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Company was outlined in the House yesterday by the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmaster-General, who indicated that a much wider service is to be planned with, many subsidiary stations to tho main ones now operating, and that there would be a general increase in power. This elaborates the statement published in yesterday's "Star." The Minister stated that he had had an interview with the chairman of the Broadcasting Company, who absolutely denied the report that the concern was being bought out by an American broadcasting company. The chairman also wished him to deny the statement that the company received £3000 per annum for broadcasting racing results. Not Completed Yet. Mr. Donald prefaced his explanation of future broadcasting policy with the qualification that it was not absolutely certified to . yet, and comprised only tentative suggestions. The Wellington station, it was proposed, would be of the same power as at present, and it was proposed to increase the Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin stations from 500 watts to 2000 watts. The present stations were more or less out of date, for, he understood, there was equipment on the market which would make broadcasting very much betteV. Many Relay Stations. It was proposed, continued'the Minister, to instal minor stations at Whangarei, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Wanganui, Gisborne, Napier and Hastings in the North Island, and one on tho West Coast, and others at Timaru and Tnvereargill, in the South Island. He did not know whether there would be other places, but the towns lie had aiained would be included, and these minor stations would be of 500 watt capacity. Generally they would be relay stations picking up the programmes of the powerful main stations, but when there was anything of importance in their own locality they would broadcast it. Improved Technical Control. The Department, the Minister said, was well equipped to take care of broadcasting, as it possessed the technicians; and* it was proposed that the Post and Telegraph Department should take care of this side of radio work, so that the stations could be kept rr*>ht up to the mark and improvements introduced as they became available. As for the programmes, he had not got very, far with that matter, but he would be pleased to receive suggestions from members or from persons outside the. House. Room for B Class Stations. "I firmly believe there is room for 1) class stations, and plans will bo ready whereby they can be kept on with the Government stations,"' he added. '"But so far as B class stations are concerned it will be'realised that we should ask them to reach a certain standard, and that will bo done. Certain regulations in regard to these stations- -will be prepared and will lead to improvement." Mr. ]•]. J. Howard (Labour, Christchureh South): You are not going- to touch the amateur? The Minister: We want to help everybody. Mr. Howard: You have not shown any indication yet. Answering a question regarding copyright charges, the Minister remarked: "The Government will not allow anv association to make exorbitant demands on tho B class stations, and ig , it is necessary, legislation will be. introduced next year to prohibit anything of that kind." AVliilc he was not going to say that the license fees to listerners would bo reduced, he hoped it would be possible to reduce the charges for crystal sets. Of tho five shillings now retained by the Department from license fees, three shillings went to the Amalgamated Wireless Company. Radio Research. Mr. Howard questioned the Minister as to the encouragement being , given to research in wireloss, for h<j believed that radio could be used extensively in place of the cables, particularly between the two Islands. The Postmaster-General replied that research was going on all the time. "Well, there is no evidence of it," commented tho questioner.