RECORDED ITEMS BY RADIO

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21536, 27 July 1935, Page 18

RECORDED ITEMS BY RADIO

EFFECTS OF BAN AUCKLAND B STATIONS [THE PRESS SpecUl Service.] AUCKLAND. July 28. No change was reputed to-day In the Bosition of B class broadcasting stations, following the demands made by the gramophone record interests concerning the broadcasting of recorded items. It was suggested, however, that the situation might have arisen from a legal decision in England. In the meantime. Stations IZB and IZM will continue their sessions, and IZJ will remain off the air in conformity with the previous decision. "It would appear to me," said Mr V. R. Johns, director of Johns, Ltd., owners of Station IZJ, "that the statement from Wellington that the position apparently is a sequel to preliminary warnings issued by the gramophone word makers in Australia a year ago, is made by scmeone not in close touch with the position, and who had not bothered to make himself fully conversant with facts as known to-day. "We are inclined to believe that the copyright interests in Australia are not party to this action, but that some rather obscure legal point has bsen raised in England, and has resulted in a decision in favour of the gramophone interests. If this is the «:ase, and it involved an appeal action in English courts to settle it. it is idl" to su««est that anyone in New Zealand could have been acquainted with the circumstances which gramophone interests say we know have existed for the last three years. 'We have not to our knowledge broken any Government regulation or infringed the-rights of any other interests during the operation of IZJ. Sincp the information to hand indicates that the gramophone interests may have rights hitherto unrecognised in New Zealand, we have decided to close down until the position is clarified" The executive of the Friendly Road organisation which controls Station IZB considered the position to-day, and subsequently the secretary. Mr H Bell, said: "If the demand in the London copyright circular can be legally substantiated, then the position may be 3erious for B stations in the Dominion. However, the circular is in general terms, and without due investigation it is impossible to state its influence on the present position of broadcasting records. In regard to our own station, we aro in the fortunate position that the majority of our transmissions include studio items and devotional sessions. Recorded items occupy such a relatively small proportion of time that if due enforcement of the suggested charge of 10s a record side was made, we could possibly still carry on with programmes for the limited time of 25 hours a week, which we are on the air."

DUNEDIN STATIONS

(PEESS ASSOCIATION TBLSOItAIt.)

DUNEDIN. July 26.

Speaking on the records ban, Mr R. Walls, of 4ZM, said he had no intention of closing the station, which would continue to broadcast records. He could see no way out except Government intervention. If one or two subsidised B stations were permitted to use records a monopoly contrary to law would be created. They looked confidently to listeners for backing, and he was already informed that Auckland, Nelson, and Christchurch intended to fight. The Otago Radio Association, owner of 4ZB, said the association was incorporated fo that if demands were enforced tbt body could be wound un. leaving nothing but the transmitting apparatus to be taken. Mr Barnett, owner of 4ZO, has replied to the federation that the matters complained of do not apply as theirs Lb not a B station but a private broadcasting station without income. Another suggestion was that thi3 move might be a preliminary to the next convention to review the gramophone rights situation.

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED NELSON STATION TO RENEW REQUEST FOR GRANT {SPICWb 90 TIDE FBSSS.) NELSON, July 26. A meeting of 2ZR Radio Club was held last evening to consider tho demand made by the National Federation of the Phonographic Industry for the payment of 10a compensation for every record side for each copyright record broadcast by the club without authority. It was decided to carry on in the meantime with other than banned records, and to communicate with other B class stations, which are in a similar position, with a view to united action. Under the present terms of its license to broadcast, the club would forfeit its icense if the station was closed down temporarily, and It was therefore decided to request the Postmaster-General to protect the-club's license, if it was temporarily forced off the air, until other arrangements could be made. It is understood that a public meeting will be held next week with a view to renewing the request to the Broadcasting Board for a Subsidy, '«»»»""J ' " ■mii|'« I <,- n