RADIO POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 154, 1 July 1936, Page 10

RADIO POLICY.

STATE CONTROL. ( DIRECTOR'S POWERS. RAPID PROGRESS SOUGHT. B STATION VALUATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Some further aspects of the Government's plans for the development of the national broadcasting services in New Zealand and the use of the commercial stations for advertising were discussed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-day, on his assumption of the new portfolio of Broadcasting. Discussing the Government's plans for the establishment of commercial stations, Mr. Savage said that there would be one each for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, but no decision had yet been made as to how advertising ...was to be controlled. "I do not know whether we will do the advertising ourselves, or give it out," said the Prime Minister. "The'less we handle it ourselves the more satisfactory it will be to everybody. I think it. will be better, to let. some private enterprise do it. We may '.et the rights or call tenders. The details have yet to be thought out." Dealing with broadcasting generally, the Prime Minister said that the Government did not intend to allow the grass to grow under its feet. "We will move forward as rapidly as possible," he said. "We want something to be done while we are alive—not when we are dead. We want this generation to enjoy all the benefits of broadcasting." Mr. Savage said that steps were now being taken for the complete- valuation •of all B stations. The valuations would be made by a qualified technical man, in - conjunction with an accountant. The purchase price, where licensees were prepared to sell, T/ould be based on the report of the valuers, and'ivhere there was no desire to give up the license the valuation would be used as a basis for a subsidy.

Mr. Savage emphasised that, in arriving at a valuation, the station* as one' providing a social service would be taken into account. He indicated that the Government's plans would necessarily have to await development until the appointment of the new director of broadcasting was made.

The director will have : more knowledge of broadcasting than I have,". said Mr. Savage. "I know what I want and he will know how to give it to us."

Asked if any claims had yet been made on the Government by the Performing Rights Association, Mr. Savage replied in the negative. Hp added, however. that when one started stirring thr; porridge something would soon come to the surface.