COMPLAINT ABOUT BROADCASTING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25022, 2 November 1946, Page 6

COMPLAINT ABOUT BROADCASTING

Sir, —May I ask for space to make a protest? To-day we were listening to the service broadcast from St. Mary’s Church. During the singing of the closing hymn the service was cut off. the announcer at 3YA stating that the time was 12.15. that we had been listening to the above service, etc., and we would now hear a preview of the programmes. We wish to protest against this uncalled for curtailment of the service, when so nearly concluded, merely to hear extracts of a programme to be broadcast later in the day. As a stop-gap when church services end before or at 12.15 this “preview” has its uses, but it should not be allowed to interfere with the broadcasting of religious services, which mean a great deal to those who for reasons of age or sickness are unable to attend them.—Yours, etc.. 80 YEARS OLD. Ashburton. October 27. 1946. [When this letter was referred to the manager of 3YA (Mr J. F. Skedden), he said that by arrangement between the Broadcasting Service and the churches an hour and 10 minutes was allowed for morning services, with an additional five minutes’ grace. If the service’was not concluded by 12.15 p.m. it had' to be cut. This arrangement was well known to the various churches and was agreed to

by them by their representatives on the Church Services’ Advisory Committee.]