MINISTERS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 3

MINISTERS' VIEWS.

DEFENCE OF THE BILL.

SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED

<By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.}

WELLINGTON, this day.

Willingness to consider the appointment of a direct nominee of the listeners to the Broadcasting Board was indicated by Mr. Hamilton in the House last night, when defending the newlyannounced radio policy of the Government. He intimated that the Friendly Road station would not be interfered with as long as it conformed to the law.

Replying to a colourless debate on the second reading of the Broadcasting Bill, Mr. Hamilton eaid it had had a good reception, and if there were any way of improving it he would be pleased to consider suggestions. The bill did not involve the closing of B stations, though members might as well argue they were being closed down now. As for the criticism of the placing of control in the hands of the board, he suggested there was not a great deal of difference between this and control by a general manager, though there was a difference in principle. He thought listeners would prefer to have their money spent by a responsible board rather than a Minister and Parliament, for it was not a Government fund. In constituting the new board lie desired to have wide representation, as it would control controversial matters. If the Government kept control of that aspect it would either have to appoint an independent censor or an independent board, and he thought the latter would bo able to sense public opinion and the desire of listeners, and give them what was reasonable. They hoped to be able to appoint good, reasonable men with a knowledge of broadcasting, not forgetting the business side of it. There was a good deal of objection to the present censorship regulation, because the matter had to be rigidly defined and the Postal Department was sometimes criticised for carrying out a definite regulation. He proposed to repeal it and to give the board power to deal with the matter in a free and easy way, instead of by hard-and-fast regulation. Some members, he continued, had recommended that some of the revenue should go to the B stations, but that was not the Government's policy. It preferred the British method. He had a good deal of sympathy for B stations and appreciated * the services they had rendered. A Member: How are they going to continue?

The Minister: I am not saying anything about that. The Government showed its sympathy with some of them by compensating the owners. Should we over-capitalise this industry? Are 34 services necessary ? Subsidies Still Possible. If they were to get revenue it must come either from license fees or from advertising over the air. Very few speakers had advocated •using listeners fees, and was it wise to encourage stations without any source of revenue? Tho board was subsidising seven or ei"ht B stations, and the bill contained no authority or direction which would prevent that practice, the board being free to continue that policy if it thus secured complete coverage throughout the Dominion. The distribution of B stations was very haphazard, for there were six in Dunedin and none in 'Wellington. Answering the suggestion that listeners should have a direct representative on the board, the Minister said that if they submitted several names he would be prepared to consider an appointment. The bill w-as read a second time without a division.