RIGHT TO LIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1936, Page 10

RIGHT TO LIVE.

B STATIONS' POSITION. PIONEERING WORK DONE. ADVERTISING RIGHTS. fßy Telecrnph.—Parliamentary .Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. When the first reference to B stations was made in the House to-night by tho Postmaster-General, Mr. Jones, in his second reading speech on the Broadcasting Bill, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) rose to a point of order. He explained that on the last occasion when broadcasting had been discussed in tho House. Mr. Speaker had ruled that a member must not rend his speech: There were cries from the Government side of the House, "You read yours" and "You should be the last person to bring that up." Mr. Speaker: Is the Hon. Minister reading his speech V The Minister: I can assure you, sir, that I am not reading my speech. Mr. Broadfoot: I will accept the Minister's word. The Minister: Thank you for nothing. "Prior to the election and ever since I have been a member of this House we have always stressed the importance of nsßisfmg B stations." said the Minister. "We think they sliould be allowed to live." Rome had a popularity even greater than (he national stations. They had done a pioneering service and were entitled to all the consideration the Government could give them. Objection might be taken to a portion of the license fees being handed to them as a subsidy. He quoted figures to show that only a portion of the listeners' fees collected in England was used by the 8.8.C., the balance being, devoted to help balance the Budget. "Disappointment." The Minister ssaid that opinions had been formed to the effect that the Government intended to grant advertising rights to some of the stations. Some of thorn would be disappointed, as they were to bo refused'that right\ Mr A. Hamilton (National, Wallace) said that the. B stations were very popular and were necessary in the early Rtn"es of broadcasting in New Zealand, but"when tho other stations had higher power there was not the same need for the B stations. It was just a question of whether the business would not be ovnr-capitalised if matters went further Where coverasie was not good the board subsidised B stations. There was no evidence that the B stations had been responsible for any groat additions in licenses. There was no doubt that B stations had a local appeal. Under tho bill B stations wore to be subsidised, nnd be liked to see people carrying out their election pledges, but be. did not think that subsidising private stations was alto-ether in line with tfie Government's avowed policy. A national service came first with the Labour Government, and a system of subsidy was getting away from it.