B STATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 264, 7 November 1935, Page 5

B STATIONS.

DUAL CONTROL.

REGULATIONS QUOTED.

CANDIDATES' OPINIONS.

"Privately owned B stations are licensed by the Postmaster-General, who controls the hours of transmission and the cancellation and transfer of licenses; but by the Broadcasting Amendment Act, 1035 the Broadcasting Board is given the duty of supervising their programmes," said the Minister of Finance and co-leader of the National Government party, Mr. Coates, at Paparoa yesterday. "I am given to understand," said Mr. Coates, "that the board has not interfered with B stations in any way except to lay down the following regulations: (1) That no political candidate may speak over the air; (2) that any B station which desires to broadcast matter that would have offended the old regulations against controversy and propaganda shall fiy.st submit such matter to the board for approval.

"The first regulation was necessary in order to prevent any candidate who happened to have access to a B station from obtaining, an unfair advantage over other candidates. If broadcasting by candidates had been allowed some would probably have been willing to pay laige sums to B stations for the privilege of speaking over the air. This was a great evil during the recent Australian elections, and my own opinion is that it is desirable to prevent a similar occurence- in New Zealand." Royalty Payments. Mr. Coates said that complaint had also been made that requests for royalty payments by gramophone companies constituted an attempt to put B stations off the air. However, this was entirely a matter for the B stations, and the companies' royalties must also be paid by the board on records broadcast from the main stations. All these payments were outside the province of the Government to control. "What definitely is. the National party's policy in regard to B stations, or what will it'be if they get in?" was a question asked Mr. H. Jenner Wily, National .Government candidate for Manukau, at his opening meeting in the Methodist schoolroom, Greenwood's Corner, last night. "I don't know what the party attitude is," said the candidate, "but —" A Voice: Well, you ought. Mr. Wily: I will try to find out and answer the question at some future date. A Voice: Ask "Uncle Scrim." Labour's Attitude. "The B stations have been of definite value to New Zealand," said Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour candidate for Parnell, in an address at Mcadowbank last evening. "If the Labour party ia returned," lie said, "they will be assured of either participating in the license fees, the right of advertising, or the right to have some form of revenue."

The speaker said that he could see no objection to the extension of B station hours. Listeners could turn the dial if they did not want to listen. He had no objections to B stations being on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks in the year. The B stations gave many people a class of entertainment that they wanted, and those who did not want the programmes could tune in to other stations.

"I believe the dual control of broadcasting is wrong and bad," said Mr. IT. P. Burton, National Government candidate for Auckland East, last evening. "We have the Post and Telegraph Department fixing the hours of broadcasting and the Broadcasting Board the programmes. (Applause.)