Televiewers’ Association Re-Elects All Officers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30764, 31 May 1965, Page 9

Televiewers’ Association Re-Elects All Officers

The Canterbury Televiewers’ Association, with 4000 members and one organiser “on the road,” was the biggest in New Zealand, it was said at the association’s annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday afternoon — but no elections for office in the association were necessary. The meeting drew an attendance of between 40 and 50.

The president (Mr J. F. Abbett), the vice-president (Mr V. S. Lawrence), the secretary (Mr J. M. McKenzie), and the treasurer (Mr C. P. Mitchell) were all returned unopposed. In addition, there were only six nominations received for a committee of seven, so that the nominees were declared elected. They were Messrs A. E. Lester, N. Fahey, N. Sandford, and R. Partridge, and Mesdames U. Purves and G. McKenzie. Five other members’ names were recommended to the executive for co-option.

Mr N. A. Smart was reelected unopposed as auditor. Mr Abbett, in reviewing the association’s year, said that it had consolidated its position (“we have a reasonably healthy bank balance,” he said) and was now producing its own monthly newspaper. Advertiser resistance to the newspaper was now over and space in it was being' well taken up. But he thought there would have to be an increase in the price of 5s for the 12 issues, at present post-free. The association had not yet achieved its policy of a direct representative of televiewers on the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, said Mr Abbett. But a bill was to come down to increase the membership of the corporation from three to seven—“and it may be that we will have someone, if not from the televiewers, from the ordinary rank and file who know what the people want,” he said.

Newcomers to the association might go away with the view that it was political. “It might seem that we attack the Government,” said Mr Abbett. But the Government was the only body before which the association could place its views. “We are nonpolitical in every sense, nonpolitical and non-religious,” he said. “If there is a change of government, we will place our views “before that new Government just as strongly.” Issues Rebated

After an extensive report by the secretary, various issues were debated—chiefly the possible establishment of a second television channel—during which time the president had often to call for order, and at 4.50 p.m., it was announced that speakers would be limited in time. On the second channel debate, there were several amendments before a final motion—“that the meeting ask the Government for the

early establishment of a second channel in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin” —was put. It was heavily defeated, only four voting for it. The general feeling seemed to be that the existing channel’s programmes should be improved before a second was established.

A motion to ask the Broadcasting Corporation to revert to 10.30 p.m. as end-of-trans-mission time from Sunday to Thursday nights (inclusive) was also heavily beaten. Payment of the 2s 6d annual subscription to the association could be made four years in advance, to involve a round sum of 10s, it was decided.

The policy of the association to press for the reduction in price of television sets should be continued, it was affirmed.

The meeting ended at 5.15 p.m.