RADIO LICENCES

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24370, 23 September 1944, Page 6

RADIO LICENCES

FEE CONSIDERED TOO HIGH

REPLY TO OPPOSITION CRITICISM

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, September 22. Criticism of the Government’s action in retaining the radio licence fee at the present level was expressed by Opposition members in the House of Representatives to-day, but the Minister m charge of Broadcasting (the Hon, F. Jones) replied that the department would have heavy expenditure to meet after the war. The Opposition also criticised the standard of programmes.

The question was raised by Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui), who said £434,000 was collected ■ in licence fees last year, and £220,000 was transferred to reserve, which stood at £1,400,000. What would be done with that large su i? Listeners expected to pay the cost of the service and reasonable depreciation, and make provision for reserves, but they were paying very much more than that, and the Government should call a halt.

Mr Jones said expenditure by the department had been delayed by the war, but would have to be met. There was a rebuilding programme of £746,000, and a larse number of sla-, tions would have to be re-equipped. The coverage in some parts of New Zealand was very bad, so that additional stations would have to be established. The licence fee might seem high, but the people paid it willingly. The number of licences last year had increased by 7000, which showed that they were satisfied.

The department was not able to provide the service that it would like tp provide. There was some criticism of programmes, but last year the (YA stations broadcast 60,000 items which could be called classical. Another postwar possibility was television, which would be very costly. “Rich Monopoly”

Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) described the department as a "rich and ruthless monopoly.’’ The increase in the number of licences was not because the service was popular, but because the people wished to hear the 8.8.C. broadcasts. New Zealand's charge was the highest in the world, and the standard of service was the lowest. Local talent was not encouraged by adequate payment, and programmes were a dreary repetition of records. The service was used as a medium of propaganda. Mr H. E. Combs (Government, Wellington Suburbs) said the money would be needed after the war for a national orchestra and a system of scholarships, and Mr Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru) said another proposal was a "conservatorium of the vocal art."

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S, G. Holland) asked why listeners today should provide costly television for posterity. He agreed that it was prudent to have a reasonable reserve, but it was time working people paid a fee commensurate with the first-rale service they should receive. He did not know why they had had to have so many American items, although a proportion was all right. They taught one thing in the schools and then broadcast another. Mr Clyde Carr; A lot of it is very clever. , .... Mr Holland: Yes, and entertaining, but we don’t want too much of it. It is easy to go down hill with our English. . ... TT The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W Nash) said radio licensing should not be used for taxing, but until the service was in proper order the fee could not be reduced. ' Mr Clyde Carr said they should avoid dullness and pedantry, which spoiled much of English literature to-day. If he wanted something. stimulating to read he went to American aythors. It was the same with the radio. He might not like swing, or “boogie woogie, but that dated him. They should cater for a catholicity of taste.