Broadcasting Hours

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27165, 8 October 1953, Page 10

Broadcasting Hours

The demands of the Opposition in Parliament for increased broadcasting hours, curtailed on and off since April, 1948, because of recurring power shortages, haye been as irresponsible as they have been persistent; Ad the Government would have been wiser to continue to resist them. However, the Minister in charge of Broadcasting (Mr Algie) has announced that there will be an increase in broadcasting hours, the extent of which will depend, presumably, on the examination of costs now being made by the Broadcasting Service. Mr Algie left it to be inferred that the question may now be decided solely on financial considerations and that the useful savings in power csnsumption, which, as two successive governments have acknowledged, are to be obtained directly and indirectly from reduced broadcasting, are no longer significant. This would seem to suggest a much more optimistic view of the power supply prospects than the public has hitherto believed to be warranted; and it is to be hoped that the Minister has assurances from the State Hydro-electric Department to support his optimism. The fact remains that the South Island was threatened early this winter with its most serious power shortage so far. It escaped only because of an exceptionally favourable season for rainfall. The accessions to generating plant which are to be expected before next winter will have to meet two years’ growth of load (there having been no addition to generating capacity in the last year); and a season of low rainfall would surely cause another serious shortage, in which all users of power (including broadcasting stations and listeners) would be required to economise. This, of course, is not the only reason, or the strongest, for the Government to approach very cautiously the extension of a public service devoted mainly to the entertainment of the .public. The New Zealand Broadcasting Service is fighting a losing battle against rising costs and has delayed, perhaps longer than is justifiable, increasing the licence fee paid by i listeners. Longer broadcasting hours • would mean additional staff or further outlay in overtime. Not many persons can seriously argue

that they are oppressed by the silence of the New Zealand radio stations between 10.30 p.m. and. 6 ajn.; and there is, in fact, no real evidence, apart from the demands of political opportunists and some radio traders, of public demand for extended broadcasting hours.