LICENSING OF RADIOS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 16

LICENSING OF RADIOS

Govt Aiming At Abolition

(NJ!. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 14. The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Kinsella) told the House of Representatives tonight he hoped broadcasting licence fees would eventually be abolished. He said there was no Intention of raising radio or television licence fees ‘ln the foreseeable future.” Mr Kinsella said he hoped the proposed Broadcasting Corporation would be fully self-supporting. He was speaking in the committee stage debate on the Broadcasting Corporation Bill which sets up a three-member corporation to control radio and television broadcasting. Mr H Watt (Opposition, Onehungia) had asked for an assurance that the Government’s intention to make the corporation self-supporting would not result in an increase in Licence fees.

Replying to Opposition criticism of the decision to grant licences to private radio and television stations, Mr Kinsella said licences would be granted to private stations only where there were deficiencies in coverage by. the corporation stations. Abuses of private broadcasting overseas had occurred only where there were monopolies, he said. “There will be no monopolies in broadcasting here.” Mr A. H Nordmeyer (Opposition, Island Bay) said the Opposition saw no reason whatever for the change from the present system—from a Government department to a corporation. “We have asked for the reason for the change and the Government has been significantly silent,” said Mr Nordmeyer. “The Government department is doing a good job for sound radio and television.

Clauses Opposed He said that the Opposition would move to amend the provision in the bill which would authorise the corporation to dispose by sale, lease or sub-lease any land or interest in land. .The Opposition would also divide the House on the provision whit* authorised the Minister to advance finance to people to establish radio stations. “If there is no intention of doing so, why is the provision written in the bill?” Mr Nordmeyer asked. Mr H. E. L. Pickering (Government, Hurunui) said that the difference between departmental control and corporation control was political control. •

Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opposition, Roskill): You are assuming a corporation has no politics. You are living in a political fairyland. Mr Pickering said a corporation could give New Zealand, for its sixe. the beet service in the world. Mr 8 Whitehead (Opposition, Nelson) wanted to know what the position of the National Orchestra and the Junior Orchestra would be under corporation control During the first 12 months of corporation control during which staff could choose to go back to the Public Service, said Mr Whitehead, staff members could also be dismissed without being able to appeal or they could be superseded by outsiders and again have no right of appeal