CHANGE FROM TO-DAY.

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

CHANGE FROM TO-DAY.

MR. SAVAGE AS MINISTER. direct form of control. ■ ■ ::■■■ i' ' vr , To-day the New Zealand Broadcasting Board is no more. Direct State control of radio broadcasting in the Dominion has come into operation, with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, as Minister of Broadcasting. The fact that Mr. Savage was to take over this portfolio was announced last night. The principal administrative officer under the Minister will be a Director of Broadcasting, and for this position applications have already been called. Meanwhile the general manager of the extinct board, Mr. E. C. Hands, will act as chief administrative officer, 1-coming directly responsible to the Minister. This morning . the listening public noticed the first direct effect on their daily programme of the far-reaching alterations which havfe been involved by the new legislation. During the breakfast session from IYA the announcer gave at intervals the movements of the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. But it is in connection with the B stations that a great part of the public eagerly awaits developments under the changed conditions. The action of tfhe Government as regards the granting of subsidies and the taking over of certain stations, it has been indicated, is not a matter to be rushed, and before definite decisions are reached it is intended to make a complete survey of the present service and its coverage. The extension of hours and equipment will also rest on this survey, it has bepn stated. Sweeping changes were involved in the Broadcasting Bill, which was passed by Parliament just before the winter r-ecess and came into operation to-day. Apart from the abolition of board control, a broadcasting account is' to be established at the Reserve Bank, and all revenue is to.be paid into this account; and three types of stations are provided for. The existing A stations will be national stations, there Will be a limited number of private or B/stations, which are to be subsidised, but are to be given ho advertising rights, and there are also to be Government commercial stations, which will enjoy the sole rights of advertising. It has not yet been decided whether an advisory council, as also provided for, will be necessary. Authority is given for the payment out of the broadcasting account of all moneys required to be expended for the purpose of providing programmes to be transmitted from broadcasting stations operated by the Minister, all moneys payable to licensees of private broadcasting stations, and all moneys payable to the post office account in respect of the issue of receiving station licenses. For every locality that is served by a commercial (advertising) station the Minister must provide an alternative service from at least one .station that is not a commercial station.. In addition to his other, functions, the Minister will supervise all programmes, .to be transmitted from private broadcasting stations, and has the power .to prohibit transmission of a programme or part of a programme as he thinks fit.