"UNSATISFACTORY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 10

"UNSATISFACTORY."

COMPANY'S PROPOSALS.

ALTERNATIVE OUTLINED.

CONTEOL BY PUBLIC BOARD.

"The statement in yesterday's 'Star , setting forward the history and aims of the Radio Broadcasting Company presents much of interest to both new listenere and those who have kept close touch with developments since the company's inception," said Mr. 6. Mcß. Salt, secretary of the Auckland Listeners' League.

"For the first time listeners have been taken, to some extent, into the confidence of the company,.which has always acted as a close corporation, with the expressed opinion that control boards of any kind were unwarranted and unnecessary. Now, however, with a change of broadcasting control in view, the company offers a radical change in policy which, in view of past radio history in New Zealand, should be subjected to close and careful scrutiny by listeners.

"The scheme appears to be unsatisfactory, if not impracticable. Virtual control of the whole of the proposed board's deliberations would be in the hands of the directors of the present company, ae they would naturally offer a solid vote on all matters. The listeners' representatives might easily have divided opinions on matters of policy, in view of the diversity of requirements of the listening public. In cases of complete difference of opinion between the company's a.nd the listeners' representatives, an impasse would arise which could result only in the present company having full control. Claim to Efficiency Unproved. "The suggestion is made that advantage should be taken of the knowledge and efficiency of the present organisation. The revenue account published is a valueless document without an elaboration of details of the general expenses. Until the amount spent on rente, total wages bill, administration expenses and the sum left available for talent are made known, the claim of efficiency is not proved. - "It will be noticed, too, that in the proposed company shares held by listeners who allow their licenses to lapse would be resumed by the company, with no provision that they would have to be reallotted. 'A Much Better Arrangement.' "From a listener's point of view the proposed system of Government control would prove a much better arrangement. The engineers of the Post and Telegraph staff are fully capable of taking over the technical side of the transmission, and in conjunction with a suitable control board, in whose hands would be placed a sum of money for the programme side, the suggested arrangement seems to approach the ideal. The New Zealand Control Board should consist of five members,-viz., one representative of the Postmaster-General, the listeners, the dealers, together with a business main of high organising ability and a musician of note. The members of the board could be appointed by the Government, and would receive a salarv. This board could supply a monthly sum of money to small honorary local boards in each of the four centres. The local boards would be responsible to the main board for the complete arrangement of programmes.

"If the Postmaster-General brings into operation some such scheme as I hare outlined here, there is every reason to believe that most of our broadcasting difficulties will vanish. Auckland listeners should get together and discuss these alternative proposals."